Concentrating solar power in developing countries: regulatory and financial incentives for scaling up

Concentrating Solar Thermal power (CST)
has a tremendous potential for scaling up renewable energy
at the utility level, diversifying the generation portfolio
mix, powering development, and mitigating climate change. At
present, different CST technologies have reached varying
degrees of commercial availability. This emerging nature of
CST means that there are market and technical impediments to
accelerating its acceptance, including cost competitiveness,
an understanding of technology capability and limitations,
intermittency, and benefits of electricity storage. Many
developed and some developing countries are currently
working to address these barriers in order to scale up
CST-based power generation. This report: a) analyzes and
draws lessons from the efforts of some developed countries
and adapts them to the characteristics of developing
economies; b) assesses the cost reduction potential and
economic and financial affordability of various technologies
in emerging markets; c) evaluates the potential for cost
reduction and associated economic benefits derived from
local manufacturing; and d) suggests ways to tailor bidding
models and practices, bid selection criteria, and structures
for power purchase agreements (PPAs) for CST projects in
developing market conditions. The report also presents a
review of typical cost structures for parabolic trough and
power tower plants, which was derived from projects
developed or under preparation in Spain and the United
States specifically for this report, and an in-depth
assessment of the respective cost drivers.