Renewable Energy World

When people think of ideal locations for concentrating solar power, they generally envision remote and dry deserts, like the Southwest. But with its Martin Solar Energy Center, Florida Power & Light (FPL) has shown that CSP can work in a humid and cloudy climate. Will that success bring more of the technology to the Southeast?

The question remains open. While it initially appeared more CSP was on it way, optimism has waned because of a combination of technological, political and market forces. First, the Southeast's climate continues to deter many developers. CSP's high temperature technology works best when solar energy is consistent. “From a geography standpoint, the Southeast is not a region where you would [expect to]see CSP move forward,” says Steve Kalland, executive director of the North Carolina Solar Center.