Clean Energy Technology Observatory: Concentrated Solar Power and Solar Heating and Cooling in the European Union - 2023 Status Report on Technology Development, Trends, Value Chains and Markets
This report analyses the current status, development, and trends of solar thermal energy, including both concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar heat for buildings, district heating, and industrial processes. While CSP has developed to a commercial scale, it has played a small role in decarbonizing the energy system, and the global market growth remains modest. The EU's progress in adding CSP capacity has also been slow, and effective auctions are needed to reward the technology's supply flexibility. Further standardization in design and manufacturing, R&D investment, and digitization are essential for CSP to become more cost-competitive and attract the needed investment to increase deployment rates. EU companies face strong competition from China, and access to favourable project financing may be equally important to technical prowess. Solar thermal technologies for heating and cooling have low overall market penetration and require an integrated solution, and there is a need for cost reduction to regain competitiveness. The EU remains a technology leader in system integration, digitization, and thermal storage.
TAYLOR Nigel;
GEORGAKAKI Aliki;
MOUNTRAKI Aikaterini;
LETOUT Simon;
INCE Ela;
SHTJEFNI Drilona;
KUOKKANEN Anna;
TATTINI Jacopo;
DIAZ RINCON Andrea;
2023-10-24
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC135004
978-92-68-08446-5 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 31706 EN,
OP KJ-NA-31-706-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC135004,
10.2760/322182 (online),
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