Should CSP mirrors be glass or metal?

Glass or metal? That could become an increasingly important question for developers of concentrating solar power projects.

A growing number of companies, from 3M to Abengoa Solar, are working on mirrors made of metals and polymer that aim to be lightweight and cheaper than the glass variety. 3M is doing a pilot-stage launch of its Solar Mirror Film, and it’s planning for a full commercial launch by the end of the year, said Daniel Chen, business development manager of 3M’s renewable energy division, according to an Aug. 11 Renewable Energy World report.