As CSP plants move closer to commercialisation, land access issues have become more important.

Projects totalling more than 6,000 MW are in the pipeline in the US, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Even as no new concentrating solar power plants were completed last year, the SEIA, in its latest report, 2008 U.S. Solar Industry Year in Review, has highlighted that the new technology developments, demonstration plants and commercialised storage technologies in 2008 paved the way for CSP development to break out over the next few years.

The report notes that 1,265 megawatts (MW) of solar power of all types were installed in 2008, increasing the total U.S. solar power capacity by 17 percent to 8,775 MW. One of the major developments last year was the passing of The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), which extended the 30 percent solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for eight years.

Press Release: http://social.csptoday.com/content/solar-energy-industry-group-reports-us-solar-market-hit-record-growth-2008-despite-economic-

Related links: More on SEIA, ITC