Solar power generation handwritten newspaper

Is concentrating solar power the future of electricity generation?

(Getty Images: John Moore) There was a time, not long ago, when the future of electricity generation looked something like the opening scene of Blade Runner 2049, with endless arrays of mirrors in concentric circles. Concentrated solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus heat from the Sun to drive a steam turbine and generate electricity.

Is concentrated solar power making a comeback?

Concentrated solar power is an old technology making a comeback. Here's how it works The 100MW Cerro Dominador CSP plant in the Atacama Desert, Chile. (Getty Images: John Moore)

Is solar power growing exponentially?

To call solar power’s rise exponential is not hyperbole, but a statement of fact. Installed solar capacity doubles roughly every three years, and so grows ten-fold each decade. Such sustained growth is seldom seen in anything that matters. That makes it hard for people to get their heads round what is going on.

Which solar companies are putting billions into US manufacturing?

Following the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, top global solar giants, including Trina Solar, JA Solar and JinkoSolar, are pouring billions into US manufacturing. SolarEdge introduces SolarEdge ONE, a real-time energy optimization tool for C&I solar setups. Advanced algorithms analyze various data points to boost solar efficiency and savings,…

Will solar power outpace natural gas?

Solar power is already rapidly growing in the U.S. and is forecast to far outpace natural gas in terms of new power plant additions this year. But renewables face a massive bottleneck to get connected to the grid, and building out transmission lines to support the growth poses a big challenge.

Should solar power be complemented with other technologies?

Given people’s proclivity for living outside daylight hours, solar power needs to be complemented with storage and supplemented by other technologies. Heavy industry and aviation and freight have been hard to electrify. Fortunately, these problems may be solved as batteries and fuels created by electrolysis gradually become cheaper.