TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lilliestam, Johan
A1  - Ollier, Lana
A1  - Labordena  Mir, Mercè
A1  - Pfenninger, Stefan
A1  - Thonig, Richard
T1  - The near- to mid-term outlook for concentrating solar power
BT  - mostly cloudy, chance of sun
JF  - Energy sources. B, Economics, planning and policy
N2  - The history of concentrating solar power (CSP) is characterized by a boom-bust pattern caused by policy support changes. Following the 2014-2016 bust phase, the combination of Chinese support and several low-cost projects triggered a new boom phase. We investigate the near- to mid-term cost, industry, market and policy outlook for the global CSP sector and show that CSP costs have decreased strongly and approach cost-competitiveness with new conventional generation. Industry has been strengthened through the entry of numerous new companies. However, the project pipeline is thin: no project broke ground in 2019 and only four projects are under construction in 2020. The only remaining large support scheme, in China, has been canceled. Without additional support soon creating a new market, the value chain may collapse and recent cost and technological advances may be undone. If policy support is renewed, however, the global CSP sector is prepared for a bright future.
KW  - concentrating solar power
KW  - technological learning
KW  - value chain analysis
KW  - energy policy
KW  - industry development
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1080/15567249.2020.1773580
SN  - 1556-7249
SN  - 1556-7257
VL  - 16
IS  - 1
SP  - 23
EP  - 41
PB  - Taylor & Francis
CY  - London [u.a.]
ER  -