Concentrated solar power (also called
concentrating solar power,
concentrated solar thermal, and
CSP) systems generate
solar power by using mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, or
solar thermal energy, onto a small area.
Electricity is generated when the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a
heat engine (usually a
steam turbine) connected to an electrical
power generator or powers a
thermochemical reaction (experimental as of 2013).