Andasol 1 is a solar-thermal power station and what is known as a parabolic trough power station. In this configuration, the concentrating mirrors have a very long trough with parabolic cross section. The individual elements of this trough, the collectors, are rotated to track the longitudinal axis of the sun. This means that direct sunlight falls at a perpendicular angle onto the opening to a focal point and/or a focal line where the light energy is concentrated by a factor of up to 80.
Credits: Solar Millennium AG / Paul-Langrock.de.