There are three types of technologies that are used to concentrate the sun’s energy, which are converted to clean, renewable energies that can be effectively used as an alternative energy source to our finite supply of fossil fuels. These include:

Parabolic Troughs: Parabolic troughs use long reflecting troughs that focus sunlight onto a pipe located at the focal line. Fluid circulating inside the pipe collects the energy and transfers it to a heat exchanger, which produces steam to power a conventional turbine. In some systems, parabolic trough-shaped structures of photovoltaic cells powered to follow the motion of the sun enable increased electricity generation.

Power Towers: Power towers use a large field of rotating mirrors to track the sun and focus the sunlight onto a heat-receiving panel on top of a tall tower. The fluid in the panel collects the heat and either uses it to generate electricity or stores it for later use.

Dish/Engine systems: Dish/engine systems are similar to satellite dishes that concentrate sunlight rather than signals, with a heat engine located at the focal point to generate electricity. These generators are small mobile units that can be operated individually or in clusters in urban and remote locations.

Concentrated solar power technologies require a continuous supply of strong sunlight, like that found in hot, dry regions such as deserts, to be effective. Developing countries with an increasing demand will probably be the first to use these technologies on a large scale.