Solar energy collection system

A solar energy collection system that includes a collector row that tracks the sun in at least one dimension by rotating about a pivot axis and at least one stand that helps support the collector row, the solar energy collection system further comprising:

• a plurality of longitudinally adjacent collectors that are arranged end to end along the longitudinal axis to form the collector row, each collector comprising:
• a reflector;
• at least one solar receiver;
• and
• a support structure supporting the reflector and the at least one solar receiver wherein no part of the at least one stand, the support structure, or any other component is positioned in front of the reflector, whereby no component of the solar energy collection system shades the reflectors of the collector row during normal operation of the solar energy collection system and wherein the reflectors of the collector row are configured to have a range of tilt angles that are at least ±70° around the pivot axis.

A power generation plant that includes a plurality of collector rows, each collector row extending along a longitudinal axis and tracking the sun in at least one dimension by rotating about a pivot axis, each of the collector rows comprising:

• a plurality of longitudinally adjacent collectors that are arranged end to end along the longitudinal axis to form the collector row, each collector comprising:
• a reflector;
• at least one solar receiver;
• and
• a support structure that supports the at least one solar receiver and the reflector, the reflectors of the adjacent collectors being arranged to collectively form a substantially continuous reflective surface along the length of the collector row wherein the reflectors of the collector row are configured to have a range of tilt angles that are at least ±70° around the pivot axis.