All either heat up water to make steam, which drives a generator, or heat and liquefy a salt with a low melting point such as sodium nitrate that is used to make steam.

• 而菲涅耳系统则利用比较便宜的平镜模仿抛物槽式系统。所有设计要么是给水加温制造蒸汽来驱动发电机，要么就是给低熔点的盐类（如硝酸钾）加温使之液化，用来制造蒸汽。