Status of Standardization Work for Solar Thermal Electric Plants

International standards from IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) are critical for product development and a healthy market. The IEC technical committee TC 117 "Solar thermal electric plants" has been established to ensure that solar thermal systems operate safely, reliably and efficiently. We present a summary of its current standardization efforts with a focus on heliostat-based systems and point out the remaining gaps that need to be addressed. The heliostat design and test standard PT 62862-4-3, which is being advanced by an international group under NRELs lead, is an example of how a standard defines product requirements and compliance test methods to support product development. A more detailed discussion of the status of this standard explains important content and challenges.