Solar Thermal Power Plants Becoming Mature

clipped from www.worldofrenewables.com Concentrated solar thermal power plants (STP) with thermal energy storage are becoming reality in Spain.  Spain has presently thirty STPs under construction and companies are trying to get project approval to add 4,300 MW of capacity, representing an investment of about $24.5 billion. While renewable energy companies in the US have been playing around with inefficient and expensive PV solar panel type of subsidized solar power (SPVP) and a couple of companies have ventured into STPs, Spain has recognized that STP can be a utility plant, easily being integrated in the existing infrastructures.  The advantages of STP are: Large power output with thermal energy storage, thus providing day and night operation  Investment costs of ~ $5,700/kW are less than nuclear plant costs STPs can be built within two to three years technology is mature and is based on steam power cycles STPs can be located in sunny states like Spain STPs can be integrated with existing steam power plants