CST4ALL - Support to the Activities of the Concentrated Solar Thermal Technology Area of the SET Plan

Abstract

The Concentrated Solar Thermal Technologies (CST) sector has struggled with high-costs associated with Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants in Europe over the past decade. Moreover, CSP has largely been viewed only as a flexibility provider for electricity systems. To address these challenges, the CST4ALL project promotes a range of hybridization and cooperation initiatives at the intersection of CST and other renewable energy technologies, drawing on the work of various European Technology & Innovation Platforms (ETIPs). CST4ALL aligns closely with current EU priorities- such as Smart Sector Integration, Fit for 55, and Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP)-as well as national energy strategies. It seeks to offer solutions to pressing issues related to decarbonisation and energy security. The key outcome is a series of workshops engaging both industry and research and development (R&D) communities, fostering interaction among stakeholders at key technology interfaces with the CST sector. By analysing both industrial and R&D perspectives, CST4ALL aims to expand the network of active stakeholders in the CST Implementation Working Group (IWG) under the SET Plan and to raise awareness of CST’s potential role in sustainable energy mix. This paper outlines the project’s main activities to support the European Commission’s cross sector approach – encouraging public and private investment in R&D and establishing the political and regulatory framework needed to implement the new CST Implementation Plan (IP) from October 2022 to March 2024.