High efficient mirrors for Concentrating Solar Power plants

Mirrors are an essential component of CSP plants. Wet chemically coated silver mirrors supplied by Flabeg GmbH achieve an average specular and solar weighted reflectivity of 94.4%. Almost 30 years of field experience prove the durability of the coating. First surface mirrors could provide higher reflectivity, but so far either the necessary durability is not met or the costs are not competitive. Another approach to increase reflectivity is to equip the mirror with an antisoiling coating. This type of mirror is currently under field testing, showing already promising results. New paint systems for silvered mirrors will expand the locations for power plants to the shore or into tropical regions.