The focus of this article is solar thermal power systems (
STPS
) and their role as part of concentrating solar power (
CSP
) technology. The
STPS
is defined as the portion of a
CSP
system where the Sun's thermal energy is converted into mechanical and electric energy. This article discusses
STPS
technologies and configurations that are appropriate for utility‐scale electricity generation, where utility scale is defined as 1 MWe, or greater. Because the
CSP
solar field produces thermal energy, all sources for electricity generation considered in this article are heat engines, in particular Rankine and Brayton cycles.
The concepts of an
STPS
are the same as any “conventional” power cycle incorporating a heat engine. Instead of fuel from a fossil source, for example, coal or natural gas, the solar field provides the fuel. The solar field provides fuel in the form of high‐temperature heat transfer fluid. The details of how this is done depend on the solar field technology and configuration, as well as the power cycle. This article discusses both direct and indirect system configurations of the solar field and the
STPS,
as well as challenges and benefits presented by the different configurations. Included are areas of investigation in advanced cycles, primarily supercritical
CO
2
, for
STPS
applications.
While the focus is on the
STPS
, this article emphasizes the importance of considering performance from a system level and, therefore, the influence of different solar field technologies and parameters on the
STPS
.