Solar Thermal Power Generation Technology

A special issue of Technologies (ISSN 2227-7080). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3218

Special Issue Editors

Energy and Environment Institute, University of Hull, Hull HU67RX, UK
Interests: heat pump; solar thermal conversion; concentrated solar power; thermal storage; organic rankine cyle; refrigeration cycle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of New Energy Science and Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Interests: thermodynamic cycle; solar thermal power generation; carnot battery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to capture the latest research in advanced heat collection, heat storage, and thermodynamic cycles for solar thermal power generation technology and heat batteries. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Concentrating solar power (including the design and optimization of novel concentrators, concentrator materials, and tracking and control systems for concentrators);
  • Heat collection and storage (including the design and optimization of novel heat collection technology, heat storage materials, and the design and optimization of thermal storage system);
  • Advanced solar heat pump cycles and their integration with storage units (including sensible heat, latent heat, and thermochemical heat);
  • Solar heat-to-power conversion technology (including the supercritical CO2 cycle, organic Rankine cycle, transcritical CO2 cycle, Stirling cycle, Steam Rankine cycle, Kalina cycle, and Cascade cycle);
  • Solar multi-generation system (including combined heat and power systems, advanced cooling cycle, and triple-generation system);
  • System integration and optimization (including integrated solar combined cycle, solar thermal desalination, solar thermal for industrial process heat, grid integration, and forecasting and control);
  • Cost analysis and economic assessment (including the levelized cost of electricity and life cycle assessment);
  • Emerging concepts and technologies (including space-based solar power and thermophotovoltaics).

Articles may describe innovative concepts, numerical simulations, experimental studies, or reviews of state-of-the-art solar thermal power generation technology.

Dr. Jing Li
Dr. Pengcheng Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Technologies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • concentrating solar power
  • heat collection and storage
  • solar multi-generation
  • solar heat-to-power conversion
  • system integration and optimization

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

36 pages, 1335 KB  
Article
Analysis of Concentrated Solar Power Potential in the Photovoltaic Competitive Landscape
by Mladen Bošnjaković
Technologies 2025, 13(12), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13120554 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1858
Abstract
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology offers significant potential for stable and dispatchable renewable electricity generation through integration with thermal energy storage. However, adoption remains limited due to high capital costs, technical complexity, and market competition from photovoltaic (PV) systems. This review systematically synthesises [...] Read more.
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology offers significant potential for stable and dispatchable renewable electricity generation through integration with thermal energy storage. However, adoption remains limited due to high capital costs, technical complexity, and market competition from photovoltaic (PV) systems. This review systematically synthesises recent literature on CSP and applies a hybrid SWOT–Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology to quantitatively evaluate key internal and external factors influencing CSP deployment. The analysis identifies major strengths such as high-capacity factors and grid stability enabled by thermal storage, as well as weaknesses including high initial investment and site requirements. Opportunities stem from technological innovation, supportive policy frameworks, and potential for local job creation, while threats include rapid cost reductions in PV systems, water scarcity, and market and regulatory uncertainties. The integrated SWOT–AHP approach provides a robust decision-making framework and strategic insights for stakeholders seeking to promote CSP technology in diverse market contexts. The findings underscore the importance of tailored policy support and targeted investment to overcome barriers and realise CSP’s full potential within the renewable energy landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Thermal Power Generation Technology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

44 pages, 5202 KB  
Review
Impact of Dust Deposition on Photovoltaic Systems and Mitigation Strategies
by Mohammad Reza Maghami
Technologies 2026, 14(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies14010015 - 24 Dec 2025
Viewed by 899
Abstract
Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) modules is a major factor contributing to reduced power output, lower efficiency, and accelerated material degradation, particularly in arid and industrialized regions. This study presents a comprehensive review and analysis of the influence of dust deposition on PV [...] Read more.
Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) modules is a major factor contributing to reduced power output, lower efficiency, and accelerated material degradation, particularly in arid and industrialized regions. This study presents a comprehensive review and analysis of the influence of dust deposition on PV performance, covering its optical, thermal, and electrical impacts. Findings from global literature indicate that dust-induced efficiency losses typically range from 10% to 70%, depending on particle characteristics, environmental conditions, and surface orientation. Experimental and modeled I–V and P–V characteristics further reveal significant declines in current and power output as soiling levels increase. Through an extensive literature assessment, this paper identifies Machine Learning (ML)-based approaches as emerging and highly effective techniques for dust detection and mitigation. Recent studies demonstrate the integration of image processing, drone-assisted monitoring, and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to enable automated, real-time soiling assessment. These intelligent methods outperform conventional manual and time-based cleaning strategies in accuracy, scalability, and cost efficiency. By synthesizing current research trends, this review highlights the growing role of ML and data-driven technologies in enhancing PV system reliability, informing predictive maintenance, and supporting sustainable solar energy generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Thermal Power Generation Technology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop