With more than a billion people lacking access to electricity, local power-generation solutions are essential to provide sustainable energy to all - particularly those consumers expected to remain isolated from national or regional grids for the foreseeable future.

The Global Atlas for Renewable Energy (Global Atlas) aims to close the gap between countries with access to the datasets, expertise and financial support to evaluate their renewable energy potential, and those lacking such elements.

Solar thermal systems (STS) offer vast potential for use in manufacturing. Yet widespread STS uptake requires policy-making to create the right conditions. This technology brief provides technical background, analyses the potential and barriers for market growth, and offers insights for policy makers on this key renewable energy technology.