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TroughNet is a technical resource for evaluation of parabolic trough solar power plant technologies.

Parabolic Trough Technology

Parabolic trough solar technology offers the lowest cost solar electric option for large power plant applications. To learn more, read our technology overviews:

A photo of a solar field featuring rows and rows of parabolic troughs at a power plant.

Solar Field

A photo of two, gray, thermal energy storage system tanks, which are very large, at a parabolic trough power plant.

Thermal Energy Storage


A photo of an aerial view of a parabolic trough power plant with rows and rows of parabolic trough surrounding it. Steam is coming out of the generation system building.

Power Plant Systems




TroughNet is developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Solar Energy Technologies Program under the Electricity, Resources, and Building Systems Integration Center.

Learn more about NREL's concentrating solar power research.

TroughNet supports the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Program through its partnership in SunLab.

2007 Parabolic Trough Technology Workshop Presentations