Concentrating solar power in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: Achieving its potential
Paper in proceeding, 2012

Concentrating solar power (CSP) is a commercially available renewable energy technology capable of harnessing the immense solar resource in Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (the MENA region), and elsewhere. This paper summarises the findings of a study by the European Academies Science Advisory Council which has examined the current status and development challenges of CSP, and consequently has evaluated the potential contribution of CSP in Europe and the MENA region to 2050. It identifies the actions that will be required by scientists, engineers, policy makers, politicians, business and investors alike, to enable this vast solar resource to make a major contribution to establishing a sustainable energy system. The study concludes that cost reductions of 50-60% in CSP electricity may reasonably be expected in the next 10-15 years, enabling the technology to be cost competitive with fossil-fired power generation at some point between 2020 and 2030. Incorporation of storage delivers added value in enabling CSP to deliver dispatchable power. Incentive schemes will be needed in Europe and MENA countries to enable this point to be achieved. Such schemes should reflect the true value of electricity to the grid, effectively drive R&D, and ensure transparency of performance and cost data.

Author

R. Pitz-Paal

German Aerospace Center (DLR)

A.M.A. Amin

Helwan University

M. Bettzüge

University of Cologne

P.C. Eames

Loughborough University

F. Fabrizi

Ente Per Le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente

G. Flamant

Institut de Science et de Genie des Materiaux et Procedes

F.G. García Novo

University of Seville

J.G. Holmes

European Academies Science Advisory Board (EASAC)

A. Kribus

Tel Aviv University

H. Van Der Laan

Leiden University

C. López

Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas (Ciemat)

Panos Papagiannakopoulos

University of Crete

Erik Pihl

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Energy Technology

P. Smith

University College Dublin

H.J. Wagner

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

EPJ Web of Conferences

21016275 (ISSN) 2100014X (eISSN)

Vol. 33 03004

Subject Categories

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.1051/epjconf/20123303004

More information

Latest update

3/1/2023 1