DOE funds solar research and development (R&D) in parabolic trough systems as one of four concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies aiming to meet the goals of the SunShot Initiative. Parabolic troughs, which are a type of linear concentrator, are the most mature CSP technology with over 500 megawatts (MW) operating worldwide.

Parabolic trough technology is currently the lowest-cost CSP option for electricity production; however, unsubsidized electricity from troughs still costs about twice that from conventional sources. The SunShot Initiative funds R&D on parabolic trough systems and related aspects within the industry, national laboratories and universities to meet the SunShot goals. An extensive set of core capabilities at the national laboratories support the R&D endeavors.

Industry Awards

• 3M Company: Next-Generation Solar Collectors for CSP (CSP SunShot FOA)
• 3M Company: Cleanable and Hardcoat Coatings for Increased Durability of Silvered Polymeric Mirrors (CSP R&D FOA)
• Abengoa Solar: Reducing the Cost of Thermal Energy Storage for Parabolic Trough Solar Power Plants (Thermal Storage FOA)
• Abengoa Solar: Advanced Polymeric Reflector for CSP Applications (CSP R&D FOA)
• Abengoa Solar: Next-Generation Parabolic Trough Collectors and Components for CSP Applications (CSP R&D FOA)
• Abengoa Solar: SpaceTube Advanced Large Aperture Parabolic Trough Collector (SolarMat FOA)
• Acciona Solar: Indirect, Dual-Media, Phase Changing Material Modular Thermal Energy Storage System (Thermal Storage FOA)
• Acciona Solar: Sensible Heat, Direct, Dual-Media Thermal Energy Storage Module (Thermal Storage FOA)
• Agira Inc.: Unique Single-Axis Tracking Planar Waveguide Optical Collector for CSP Modules (CSP: COLLECTS FOA)
• Alcoa: System Design for CSP Technologies (CSP R&D FOA)
• General Atomics: Baseload CSP Generation Integrated with Sulfur-Based Thermochemical Heat Storage (Baseload CSP FOA)
• General Atomics: Thermochemical Heat Storage for CSP Based on Multivalent Metal Oxides (Thermal Storage FOA)
• Halotechnics: Deep Eutectic Salt Formulations Suitable as Advanced Heat Transfer Fluids (Thermal Storage FOA)
• Infinia: Innovative Phase Change Thermal Energy Storage Solution for Baseload Power (Baseload CSP FOA)
• Norwich Technologies: Advanced Low-Cost Receivers for Parabolic Troughs (CSP SunShot FOA)
• Norwich Technologies: SunTrapTM Novel Receiver for Trough-Based CSP (SolarMat 2 FOA)
• PPG: Next-Generation Low-Cost Reflector (Baseload CSP FOA)
• PPG: High Performance Reflector Panels for CSP Assemblies (CSP R&D FOA)
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne: Long-Shafted Molten Salt Pump (CSP R&D FOA)
• SENER: High-Efficiency Thermal Storage System for Solar Plants (Baseload CSP FOA)
• SkyFuel: High-Concentration, Low-Cost Parabolic Trough System for Baseload CSP Generation (Baseload CSP FOA)
• Solar Millennium: Advanced High Temperature Trough Collector Development (CSP R&D FOA)
• Southwest Research Institute: CSP Tower Air Brayton Combustor (CSP SunShot FOA)
• Southwest Research Institute: Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Turbo-Expander and Heat Exchangers (CSP SunShot FOA)
• Suntrough: Low-Cost Solar Thermal Collector (Baseload CSP FOA)
• Sunvapor Inc.: Green Parabolic Trough Collector Inspired by an Architectural Paradigm (CSP: COLLECTS FOA)
• Terrafore: Encapsulated Phase Change Material in Thermal Storage for Baseload CSP Plants (Baseload CSP FOA)
• Terrafore: Heat Transfer and Latent Heat Storage in Inorganic Molten Salts for CSP Plants (Thermal Storage FOA)
• US Solar Holdings: CSP Energy Storage Solutions – Multiple Technologies Compared (Thermal Storage FOA)

National Laboratory Awards

• Argonne National Laboratory: High-Efficiency Thermal Energy Storage System for CSP (National Laboratory R&D)
• Argonne National Laboratory: Chemically Reactive Working Fluids (CSP SunShot FOA)
• Argonne National Laboratory: Dual-Purpose Heat Transfer Fluids for CSP (CSP Recovery Act)
• Los Alamos National Laboratory: High Temperature Heat Pipe Receiver for Parabolic Trough Collectors (CSP SuNLaMP FOA)
• Los Alamos National Laboratory: Hybrid Organic Silicone HTF Utilizing Endothermic Chemical Reactions for Latent Heat Storage (CSP Recovery Act)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Degradation Mechanisms and Development of Protective Coatings for TES and HTF Containment Materials (National Laboratory R&D)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Particle Receiver Integrated with a Fluidized Bed (CSP SunShot FOA)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory: Nanomaterials for Thermal Energy Storage in CSP Plants (CSP Recovery Act)
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Low-Cost Self-Cleaning Reflector Coatings for CSP Collectors (National Laboratory R&D)
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Polyaromatic Naphthalene Derivatives as Solar Heat Transfer Fluids (CSP Recovery Act)
• Savannah River National Laboratory: Fundamental Corrosion Studies in High-Temperature Molten Salt Systems for Next-Generation CSP Systems (National Laboratory R&D)
• Savannah River National Laboratory: Low-Cost Metal Hydride Thermal Energy Storage System for CSP Systems (National Laboratory R&D)
• Savannah River National Laboratory: Thermally-Stable Ionic Liquid Carriers for Nanoparticle-Based Heat Transfer in CSP Applications (CSP Recovery Act)

University Awards

• Boston University: Self-Cleaning CSP Collectors (CSP SunShot FOA)
• City College of New York: A Novel Storage Method for CSP Plants Allowing Operation at High Temperature (Thermal Storage FOA)
• Dartmouth College: Large-Scale, Reliable Coating Technologies for Low-Cost CSP Systems (CSP APOLLO FOA)
• Lehigh University: Novel Thermal Storage Technologies for Concentrating Solar Power Generation (Thermal Storage FOA)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Concentrated Solar Thermoelectric Power (CSP SunShot FOA)
• San Diego State University: A Small-Particle Solar Receiver for High-Temperature Brayton Power Cycles (CSP SunShot FOA)
• Texas Engineering Experiment Station: Molten Salt-Carbon Nanotube Thermal Storage (Thermal Storage FOA)
• University of Alabama: Novel Molten Salts Thermal Energy Storage for Concentrating Solar Power Generation (Thermal Storage FOA)
• University of Arizona: Advanced Manufacture of Reflectors (CSP SunShot FOA)
• University of Arizona: Halide and Oxy-Halide Eutectic Systems for High-Performance, High-Temperature Heat Transfer Fluids (SunShot MURI FOA)
• University of Arkansas: Development and Performance Evaluation of High Temperature Concrete for Thermal Energy Storage for Solar Power Generation (Thermal Storage FOA)
• University of California, Los Angeles: High Operating Temperature Liquid Metal Heat Transfer Fluids (SunShot MURI FOA)
• University of Connecticut: Novel Thermal Energy Storage Systems (TES) for Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) (Thermal Storage FOA)
• University of South Florida: Innovative Thermal Energy Storage for Baseload Solar Power Generation (Baseload CSP FOA)

Core Capabilities

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory: System Advisor Model Enhancements for CSP (National Laboratory R&D)
• Sandia National Laboratories: DOE National Solar Thermal Test Facility (National Laboratory R&D)

Learn about other concentrating solar power research.