The major components of our energy systems, such as fuel production, refining, electrical generation and distribution, are costly installation that have lengthy life span.
Last year the UN's food and Agriculture Organisation said that food production would have to increase globally by 70% by 2050 to feed the world's surging population.
Although solar cells had now penetrated numerous niche markets, the cost of making them still priced them out of the market for grid-connected electricity.
At daybreak each mirror array will turn sunward, and concentrated light will heat a Stirling engine held at the focal point, driving pistons and making electricity.