Solar thermal power plants are electricity generation plants that utilize energy from the Sun to heat a fluid to a high temperature. This fluid then transfers its heat to water, which then becomes superheated steam. This steam is then used to turn turbines in a power plant, and this mechanical energy is converted into electricity by a generator. This type of generation is essentially the same as electricity generation that uses fossil fuels, but instead heats steam using sunlight instead of combustion of fossil fuels.These systems use solar collectors to concentrate the Sun’s rays on one point to achieve appropriately high temperatures.
There are two types of systems to collect solar radiation and store it: passive systems and active systems. Solar thermal power plants are considered active systems. These plants are designed to operate using only solar energy, but most plants can use fossil fuel combustion to supplement output when needed.
