Next steps for the Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Industry

However this is set to change, most recently the US Energy Department announced new investments for 21 total projects to further advance cutting-edge CSP technologies. The awards span 13 states for a total of $56 million over three years, subject to congressional appropriations. The research projects, conducted in partnership with private industry, national laboratories and universities, support the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative, a collaborative national effort to make solar power cost-competitive with traditional energy sources by the end of the decade.

Complementing the research efforts is the collaboration of senior level executives across the CSP value chain to join forces and discuss a long term strategy the secure CSP’s place in the US energy mix and ensure business opportunities for developers, EPC firms, technology providers and manufacturers. The battle for projects will only be won by CSP developers once they are able to prove CSP’s viability and desirability to policy makers, utilities and investors. At CSP Today USA 2012 Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon from California Public Utilities Commission will give a keynote address, which Commissioner Simon said ‘’ll be providing the Californian perspective on the landscape of policy in California. Delegates will come away with a comprehensive overview of how to capitalise on existing support mechanisms and be part of the drive for future support.’ Commissioner Simon will be joined by policy makers from Nevada, Arizona as well as the CEO’s of leading CSP companies.

Over 500 CSP executives will descend at the Caesars Palace, Las Vegas where they will find out how develop a winning strategy to get competitive and secure a greater stake in the CSP industry. Making this the largest and market leading forum for CSP professionals to meet in North America.

www.csptoday.com/usa/