Green Technology

... "Located near Red Rock, Ariz., the one-megawatt plant is the first solar trough generator in the state and the first solar trough built in the United States in almost 20 years. Unlike a photovoltaic solar plant, which uses sunlight to produce electricity, a solar trough uses heat from the sun to create electricity. The sun heats oil, which is then used to drive a turbine/generator. This technology can easily be combined with a storage facility, allowing it to hold energy, and to provide electricity when needed-not just when the sun is shining (traditional solar plants are unable to store energy). " ...

Via Arizona Public Service: Read

Interesting references on trough systems used in solar energy applications ...

Via Florida State University: Solar Power Plant: "Trough systems convert the heat from the sun into electricity. Because of their parabolic shape, troughs can focus the sun at 30 to 60 times its normal intensity on a receiver pipe located along the focal line of the trough. Synthetic oil captures this heat ... "

Via NREL: Solar Power Research - Parabolic-Trough Solar Field Technology: "We're focused on optimizing the structure of the current steel/thick-glass concentrators and increasing the concentrator size. "

Via EERE: Parabolic Trough Systems:: "Trough designs can store energy by accumulating the hot heat transfer fluid in insulated tanks, allowing for electricity generation several hours into the evening. "