Concentrated solar power in India: A review of technologies, challenges, and future prospects

Solar energy has emerged as one of the most scalable and sustainable solutions in a global landscape still dominated by fossil fuel-dependent economies. In particular, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is of interest due to its ability to provide dispatchable renewable energy in the form of a combined Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, thus allowing stable support of the grid and delivery of power during peak hours. The situation in India reflects the stagnant deployment of CSP despite the high Direct Normal Irradiance ( DNI) in several regions, especially Rajasthan and Gujarat, due to high capital costs, water scarcity, unpredictable bidding schemes, and limited domestic manufacturing capacity. This paper discusses global CSP trends and India’s technological advancements, policy development, cost-reduction measures, and water-efficient cooling solutions, as well as hybridization strategies such as coal-CSP and CSP-PV integration. The analysis recommends hybridization with existing fossil infrastructure, adoption of advanced molten salt and packed-bed thermal storage, and policy support, including tariff certainty, domestic manufacturing incentives, and grid-service payments as viable pathways for a CSP revival in India.