Description

Concentrated solar power (CSP) has grown exponentially in the last five years, from a newly introduced technology to a mass-produced and mainstream power generation solution. The CSP market reignited in 2007 and has since been experiencing significant growth. Focusing on Spain and the U.S. markets of California and Nevada, CSP plants grew to a cumulative total of 817 MW by the end of 2009. In the context of other renewables, CSP and wind are the fastest-growing markets. Although wind is a more mature market and has been granted a larger share of the IRP document, CSP is an ideal choice for South Africa, as the Northern Cape region has the highest solar irradiation levels in the world.