Concentrated Solar Power Could Generate 25% of the World's Electricity by 2050

May 29th, 2009 by Ariel Schwartz

A new study from Greenpeace, the European Solar Thermal Agency, and the International Energy Agency’s SolarPACES Group has shown that concentrated solar power (CSP) could generate a quarter of the world’s energy needs by 2050–and create thousands of new jobs and prevent millions of tons of CO2 from being released.

CSP uses mirror to focus sunlight on water. The reaction creates steam that turns turbines and generates electricity. Unlike photovoltaic solar panels, CSP only works in places with reliable sunny weather, such as parts of the southern U.S., North Africa, Mexico, and India.

Sven Teske, co-author of the study, estimates that current investments in CSP ($2.8 billion) could grow under a moderate scenario to over $11 billion by 2010 and produce 7% of the world’s electricity generating capacity. By 2050, investments could grow to $93 billion. This all assumes, of course, that political and investment barriers are removed in short order. But even in a modest scenario, CSP could grow to 830GW of installed capacity by 2050, providing 12% of the world’s power needs. Combined with geothermal and wind farms, alternative energies could provide a significant portion of our overall energy needs in the next few decades.

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Tags: concentrated solar, CSP, Electricity, Energy, Greenpeace

About the Author

Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a senior editor at Co.Exist. She has contributed to SF Weekly, Popular Science, Inhabitat, Greenbiz, NBC Bay Area, GOOD Magazine, and more. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.

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Will Jacobson

Don’t Forget Australia there have shed-loads of reliable solar.
Will Jacobson

Don’t Forget Australia there have shed-loads of reliable solar.
Will Jacobson

Don’t Forget Australia there have shed-loads of reliable solar.
http://virgintech.org Shahab khan

Simply amazing!

If it can generate this much power after accounting the population and some other factors of 2050 then its really a great structure.
http://virgintech.org Shahab khan

Simply amazing!

If it can generate this much power after accounting the population and some other factors of 2050 then its really a great structure.
http://virgintech.org Shahab khan

Simply amazing!

If it can generate this much power after accounting the population and some other factors of 2050 then its really a great structure.
http://recyclebills.squarespace.com/recycleblog/ RecycleBill

Russ,

Who said anything about small scale CSP. Not me. Think big picture, hundreds of mirrors all over a large Southern city all aimed at one point would produce just as much energy as the same size array in the middle of nowhere without the environmental damage, need for new infrastructure (highways, housing, businesses all built in the middle of nowhere) and the constantant damage to mirrors by sandstorms. (Ever been in a sandstorm in an Arisona or California desert? I have.)

Have you even thought about the energy, natural resourses and CO2 road building requires. Paved 2 land roads capable of handling trucks now exceed $1,000,000 (Million) Dollars per mile.

And recent plans by one of the largest electric utilties in the USA adds weight to my argument.

Russ, simply think large scale CSP where the people live and the power is needed.
http://recyclebills.squarespace.com/recycleblog/ RecycleBill

Russ,

Who said anything about small scale CSP. Not me. Think big picture, hundreds of mirrors all over a large Southern city all aimed at one point would produce just as much energy as the same size array in the middle of nowhere without the environmental damage, need for new infrastructure (highways, housing, businesses all built in the middle of nowhere) and the constantant damage to mirrors by sandstorms. (Ever been in a sandstorm in an Arisona or California desert? I have.)

Have you even thought about the energy, natural resourses and CO2 road building requires. Paved 2 land roads capable of handling trucks now exceed $1,000,000 (Million) Dollars per mile.

And recent plans by one of the largest electric utilties in the USA adds weight to my argument.

Russ, simply think large scale CSP where the people live and the power is needed.
http://recyclebills.squarespace.com/recycleblog/ RecycleBill

Russ,

Who said anything about small scale CSP. Not me. Think big picture, hundreds of mirrors all over a large Southern city all aimed at one point would produce just as much energy as the same size array in the middle of nowhere without the environmental damage, need for new infrastructure (highways, housing, businesses all built in the middle of nowhere) and the constantant damage to mirrors by sandstorms. (Ever been in a sandstorm in an Arisona or California desert? I have.)

Have you even thought about the energy, natural resourses and CO2 road building requires. Paved 2 land roads capable of handling trucks now exceed $1,000,000 (Million) Dollars per mile.

And recent plans by one of the largest electric utilties in the USA adds weight to my argument.

Russ, simply think large scale CSP where the people live and the power is needed.
Steve

fusion is the future. Not fission. Although they both are way better and greener than concentrated solar.
Steve

fusion is the future. Not fission. Although they both are way better and greener than concentrated solar.
Steve

fusion is the future. Not fission. Although they both are way better and greener than concentrated solar.
Steve

you mean fusion?
Steve

you mean fusion?
russ

Gee! I thought we already had fission! And too many don’t like it.
russ

Gee! I thought we already had fission! And too many don’t like it.
Steve

California is trying to make fission work. It will happen eventually, and it is the future.
Steve

California is trying to make fission work. It will happen eventually, and it is the future.
russ

Small scale CSP on roof tops is similar to residential wind – lots of expense and little output. Good for the salesman and company but no one else.

Large scale is far cheaper, economical and is easier to maintain – cheaper to the consumer in the long run.

I would hazard a guess that much of the residential energy collecting equipment such as PV and wind (excluding solar hot water) will never save more energy or save more CO2 than was used in it’s production.

Maybe PV will become more cost effective – someday.
russ

Small scale CSP on roof tops is similar to residential wind – lots of expense and little output. Good for the salesman and company but no one else.

Large scale is far cheaper, economical and is easier to maintain – cheaper to the consumer in the long run.

I would hazard a guess that much of the residential energy collecting equipment such as PV and wind (excluding solar hot water) will never save more energy or save more CO2 than was used in it’s production.

Maybe PV will become more cost effective – someday.
http://recyclebills.squarespace.com/recycleblog/ RecycleBill

Why does no one ask, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

CSP does not need to be in the middle of some desert hundreds of miles away from where the energy is needed most– in cities.

CSP could just as easily be installed on the rooftops of any city in the Southern USA without causing the environmental damage that will be caused by remote installations. It’s time to Just say no to renewable energy zones on public lands and see them as what they are: a continuination of America’s current energy monopolies.
http://recyclebills.squarespace.com/recycleblog/ RecycleBill

Why does no one ask, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

CSP does not need to be in the middle of some desert hundreds of miles away from where the energy is needed most– in cities.

CSP could just as easily be installed on the rooftops of any city in the Southern USA without causing the environmental damage that will be caused by remote installations. It’s time to Just say no to renewable energy zones on public lands and see them as what they are: a continuination of America’s current energy monopolies.
http://recyclebills.squarespace.com/recycleblog/ RecycleBill

Why does no one ask, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

CSP does not need to be in the middle of some desert hundreds of miles away from where the energy is needed most– in cities.

CSP could just as easily be installed on the rooftops of any city in the Southern USA without causing the environmental damage that will be caused by remote installations. It’s time to Just say no to renewable energy zones on public lands and see them as what they are: a continuination of America’s current energy monopolies.
chrisp68

Does this account for the growth in population and usage or just based on today’s numbers. Does it also account for improved energy efficiency or business as usual?

I wonder if accounts for people getting fatter and turning up the AC to keep cool instead of exercising.
chrisp68

Does this account for the growth in population and usage or just based on today’s numbers. Does it also account for improved energy efficiency or business as usual?

I wonder if accounts for people getting fatter and turning up the AC to keep cool instead of exercising.