Solar furnace

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A solar furnace is a structure used to harness the sun's rays to produce very high temperatures. A solar furnace concentrates solar flux to produce heat (up to 4,000°C) at the focal point. The heat can be used to generate electricity, melt rock or steel or make hydrogen fuel.

It is expected that solar furnaces will be employed in space-based material processing facilities.

[edit] See also

[edit] Variations on the solar furnace

• Solar power tower
• Nevada Solar One
• Solar One
• Themis

[edit] Related concepts

• Solar thermal energy
• Solar updraft tower
• Energy tower