A new solar plant in Nevada shows the potential of the southwestern United States’ deserts to provide a significant amount of clean, renewable energy from concentrating solar power (CSP). Though most people are more familiar with photovoltaic (PV) systems, CSP is one of the most promising large-scale energy technologies.

The combination of intense sun and large areas of flat land make the Southwest an ideal location for CSP systems. One type of CSP is parabolic trough technology, in which fields of curved mirrors focus solar radiation onto collector tubes. The collected 750 degree thermal energy creates steam that powers electric generators. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), CSP plants covering 9 percent of Nevada could generate enough electricity to meet the needs of the entire United States!

Traditionally, PV technology has received the most attention in the solar power industry. PV systems use the sun’s light (radiant energy) to produce electricity, usually for small-scale applications. CSP, however, uses the sun’s heat (thermal energy) to produce power in utility-size installations. For example, Nevada Solar One — a 64 megawatt (MW) CSP plant under construction in Boulder City — will produce enough electricity to power 40,000 homes, resulting in a reduction in annual greenhouse gases equivalent to removing 20,000 cars from U.S. roads.