Concentrating systems for power, heating, and cooling

Due to Kyoto targets and rising energy prices solar energy is one of the renewable energy sources which encounter high growth rates. Currently, several new power plants of concentrated solar power (CSP) technology are under construction in Spain, the USA and North of Africa. The possible use of CSP technology for combined heat-power-cooling supply has also emerged especially in Mediterranean countries to satisfy the need of energy for air conditioning, space heating and domestic hot water with additional possibility of generating electricity with proper plant configurations. This article presents possible technologies and plant configurations for combined heat-powercooling supply and gives a technical overview of the most important components.