A review of concentrating solar power plants in the world and their potential use in Serbia

In the paper description and working principles of the parabolic trough power plants, solar tower power plants, parabolic dish power plants and power plants with Fresnel reflectors in the world and their potential use in Serbia are given. In addition, the examples and technical characteristics of some concentrating solar power plants in the world are given. The paper points out that first CSP plant Solar One was installed in 1982 in USA. Nowadays there are 29 active CSP plants while 31 are being constructed worldwide. Power of parabolic trough power plants is between 0.25 and 354 MW, solar tower power plants 1.5 and 20 MW, parabolic dish power plants 1.5 MW and power plants with Fresnel reflectors 1.4 and 5 MW. The biggest active CSP plant SECS of 354 MW is located in Mojave Desert in USA. Besides results of considerations on solar energy potential in Serbia, current solar energy activities and future solar power projects in Serbia are given. Special attention is drawn to the Serbian government initiatives and support for the use of renewable sources of energy. In the end a suggestion for the installation of concentrating solar power plant in Serbia is given. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.