THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY, OPERABILITY, AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER (CSP) PLANTS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF A ‘THEORY & PRACTICE’ GUIDELINE IN COLLABORATION WITH TECHNOLOGY END-USERS. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL SYSTEMATICALLY ADDRESS IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES IN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF KEY STEAM GENERATING AND POWER PRODUCTION COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE REHEAT/SUPERHEAT AND EVAPORATOR/ECONOMIZER LOOPS, HEAT-EXCHANGERS, STEAM TURBINE-GENERATOR, PIPING, STEAM AND WATER CHEMISTRY, AND BALANCE OF PLANT COMPONENTS. THE UNIQUE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF CSP PLANTS, CYCLIC ON/OFF OPERATION AND INTEGRATION WITH DIFFERENT THERMAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS, ARE CHALLENGING TO THE TRADITIONAL STEAM TURBINE DRIVEN POWER CYCLES AND AS-SUCH SPECIFIC GUIDELINES ARE NEEDED BY END-USERS TO ACHIEVE RELIABLE OPERATION. THE DEVELOPED GUIDELINES WILL BE APPLICABLE, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, TO ALL CSP PLANTS WHICH UTILIZE STEAM RANKINE CYCLES TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY.