Concentrated solar power and solar heating and cooling in the European Union

This report analyses the current status, development, and trends of solar thermal energy, including both concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar heat for buildings, district heating, and industrial processes. While CSP has developed to a commercial scale, up to now it has played a small role in decarbonizing the energy system, and the global market growth remains modest. Further standardization in design and manufacturing, R&D investment, and digitization are essential. Solar thermal technologies for heating and cooling have a low overall market penetration and require an integrated solution, and there is a need for cost reduction to maintain competitiveness. The EU remains a technology leader in system integration, digitization, and thermal storage.