A CSP plant can incorporate thermal energy storage, which stores energy either in the form of sensible heat or as latent heat (for example, using molten salt), which enables these plants to continue supplying electricity whenever it is needed, day or night. Concentrated solar power (CSP), also called concentrating solar power or concentrated solar thermal, involves systems that collect solar heat for multiple purposes like cooking, desalination, or the generation of electric solar power, by using mirrors to concentrate a large area of sunlight toward. Unlike photovoltaic solar energy storage, which often use batteries to store energy, CSP energy storage uses mechanical systems to manage thermal energy. Southwest Research Institute is working to advance CSP energy storage through development of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2) power cycles. Thermal energy storage provides a workable solution to this challenge. Concentrated solar power (CSP) with energy storage is an upcoming renewable technology that promises to provide. At COP26, India announced the highly ambitious goal of decarbonizing energy to 50% and achieving 500 GW of fossil fuel-free generating capacity by 2030.
