Concentrating solar power: a global overview and the potentiality in Brazil for electricity generation

Abstract

The new renewable energies has been growing consistently in recent years in the world, indicating a process of global energy transition. In this context, use of technologies that take advantage of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) for large-scale electricity generation is relatively recent. Compared to the installed global capacities of wind power and solar photovoltaic technologies, the installed capacity of CSP technologies is still very incipient and small. However, it has shown growth and is one of the promising renewable energy types. Thus, this work aims: to present an overview of the CSP technologies; to carry out an exploratory study on the current situation of CSP energy in the World and in the Brazil; and to show the possibility of implantation in Brazil. There are no still heliothermal power plants in commercial operation in Brazil, but there are some pioneer research power plants and there is a region, called the Solar Belt, with potential for implementation of these power plants. Results obtained The results found were: A great power potential to be explored by CSP in World and in Brazil is available; The CSP technologies are underused because your cost is yet high in comparison with wind and solar PV power; Until this moment, there is no politic and regulatory decision for help in the CSP commercial projects implantation in Brazil.