Next generation solar power could replace fossil fuels says WRI

Concentrating solar thermal (CST) power has the potential to provide power on the margin of the demand curve, as well as replacing coal at the core of the power mix in the US, according to a report by the World Resources Institute (WRI.)

CST uses reflective material to concentrate the sun’s rays to power steam turbines or engines. When combined with thermal storage CST can generate electricity on demand by storing heat in a transfer fluid like water, oil or molten salt and enabling a plant to produce power under cloud cover and after the sun has set, according to the report.

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