Central Power applications use solar energy in the same configuration that a Utility would utilize a major power station. This is distinctly different from the other applications on this page, which are known as distributed power or power distributed in small aggregate amounts of power, usually close to the point of use of the electricity.

Central solar power generation plants have been installed in Italy, US and Spain, for example. However, all these plants are pilot in nature. Central solar plants may be attractive under certain conditions, but they do not capitalize on the competitive strengths of solar PV in terms of its flexibility of location (i.e. being located close to the customer) and its ability to be installed incrementally.