Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) – a Global Market Size, Competitive Landscape, Regulations & Investment Analysis to 2020 describes key drivers and challenges in the global CSP market, and provides historical and forecast data for installed capacity and power generation through 2020. The report also analyzes the CSP market in the context of individual country policy frameworks, and finds that the market is driven by strong government support and financial incentives – state renewable portfolio standards in the United States; and in Spain, by the country’s aggressive feed-in tariff policy. The U.S. and Spanish governments also encourage investment in the sector by offering loans and grants to plant developers.
The report finds that the primary barriers to CSP development are the relative high cost of generation compared to conventional electricity, as well as the economies of scale that developers must achieve in order to build a CSP plant. Other barriers include land and environmental constraints, and the layout of current grid infrastructure. For example, the areas of highest CSP potential are, in general, typically far from the areas of highest energy demand.
According to GlobalData, the American Southwest has the highest potential for CSP generation. Other areas with significant potential include the Middle East, Mediterranean countries, and areas in Eastern and Central Asia. The report can be ordered from the GlobalData website.