Thousands of mirrors arrayed in circles facing the sky are lit up by the Nevada desert sunshine. The top of the 195 metre high tower which stands in the midst of the mirrors is powered by the reflected sunshine.
Like many other power plants it generates electricity, but what makes it different is it is able to carry on generating electricity after the sun sets because the energy is stored as heat. Liquid salt, heated up by the concentrated light, is pumped to the top of the tower.
The temperature can reach as much as 556C, this is used to make steam. The steam powers an electricity generator in another part of the plant. This means that electricity can be produced 24 hours a day, much like a conventional gas power station.
