Central receiver-based CSP plants Part 2: Components categorization and future prospects

This study presents a comprehensive historical and technological categorization of the key components in central receiver-based concentrating solar power (CR-CSP) systems. It examines the evolution of heliostat fields, receivers, heat transfer fluids (HTFs), thermal energy storage (TES), and power blocks across operational, under-construction, and demonstration projects. Using a dual-stream methodology that integrates peer-reviewed literature with real-world project data, the paper identifies critical design transitions, material choices, and deployment trends that have shaped the current state of CR-CSP technology. The analysis highlights how high-temperature receiver configurations, emerging TES strategies, and alternative HTFs are enabling greater dispatchability and hybrid integration. Two future deployment scenarios are proposed: (1) the co-location of CR-CSP with low-cost renewable sources to leverage TES for grid stability, and (2) the use of CR-CSP for direct industrial heat applications, bypassing conversion losses. These findings provide strategic guidance for researchers, developers, and policymakers aiming to advance the technical and economic feasibility of CR-CSP systems in the global energy transition.