Considering that CSP could be promoted in Europe, additional installed capacity will have positive or negative impacts on the economy, society and the environment, or trigger higher or lower energy supply dependence from non-European economies.

Components will be produced, intermediate inputs (both domestic and imported) will be required, commodities will be extracted and personnel will be necessary to undertake these activities. In a world where the production process is determined by the so-called global value chains (GVCs), identifying where (which countries and sectors) impacts (value added, employment, GHG emissions, etc.) are being generated can be useful to design appropriate environmental, energy and industrial policies. For example, the penetration of China as a potential supplier for the CSP industry [19] may displace part of the economic benefits outside Europe.

Gamarra, A., Banacloche, S., Lechon, Y., & del Río, P. (2023). Assessing the sustainability impacts of concentrated solar power deployment in Europe in the context of global value chains. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 171, 113004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.113004

Published (full text here) in the January Issue of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews