Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from CSP
Concentrated solar power has low lifecycle emissions compared with fossil-fuel generation. Emissions arise from manufacturing, construction, and end-of-life handling, but operational emissions are minimal since solar heat is the primary energy input.
Comparison points:
- Manufacturing and construction: embodied emissions come from steel, concrete, mirror production, and transport.
- Operation: negligible direct CO2 emissions when running on solar heat; backup fossil systems or maintenance activities add small amounts.
- Storage impact: thermal storage has minor additional emissions tied to tank and salt manufacture and energy used to maintain temperatures during standby.
Relative performance:
- CSP typically has lifecycle emissions similar to PV and wind on a per-MWh basis and far lower than coal or natural gas plants.
- Local factors, supply chain carbon intensity, and the extent of backup fossil usage influence final lifecycle numbers.
Overall, CSP is a low-carbon option for large-scale generation, especially when replacing or reducing fossil-fired thermal generation.