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Tracking Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) 2020

Not on track
Tracking report — June 2020
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About this report

CSP generation increased by an estimated 34% in 2019. Although this growth is exceptionally high, CSP is still not on track with the SDS, which requires annual average growth of almost 24% through 2030. Policy designs that emphasise the value of CSP plant storage will be key to attract additional investment.

Concentrating solar power generation in the Sustainable Development Scenario, 2000-2030

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Tracking progress

In 2019, almost 600 MW of CSP capacity were added, a 20% decrease compared with 2018 and close to the average of the previous ten years.

Israel led the growth by commissioning 230 MW, China was second with 200 MW and South Africa third with 100 MW. In addition, 50 MW became operational in Kuwait.

CSP generation increased 34% in 2019, surpassing the 24% yearly average for 2011‑18. However, annual capacity expansions need to reach 8 GW per year by 2030 – well above the current level – to attain the SDS target.

Growth in CSP capacity is forecast to come mostly from emerging economies, especially China, Morocco and South Africa, where the largest plants with longer storage hours are expected to come online. Although China has introduced an ambitious target of 5 GW by 2020 with several pilot projects, deployment has been slow.

Additional resources

Renewables 2019 is the IEA market analysis and forecast for renewable energy and technologies for 2019 24. It presents global renewable energy trends and developments in the electricity, heat and transport sectors.

The Renewable Energy Market Update updates the IEA’s most recent five-year renewable energy forecast, Renewables 2019, published in October 2019. It provides an early analysis of the drivers and challenges since last October, and covers renewable capacity additions for all technologies expected during 2020 and 2021.

The IEA Concentrating Solar Power Technology Collaboration Programme aims to accelerate CSP technology development, market deployment and collaboration.