Solar
Solar Power Tower
A concentrating solar plant in which a field of heliostats focuses sunlight onto a receiver atop a tower.
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Labelled system
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Original ENERGY ATLAS schematic. Interactive 3D is opt-in on this page.
Mirrors with two-axis tracking.
Overview
Power towers can store heat in molten salt, generating electricity after sunset for a limited duration. They need strong direct sunlight.
How it works
Heliostats track the sun and aim beams at a receiver. Heat is transferred to salt or another medium, then to a steam cycle.
Components
Heliostat field
Mirrors with two-axis tracking.
Receiver
Absorbs concentrated flux.
Thermal storage
Often two-tank molten salt.
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