Tower solar thermal power (STP) is one of the most promising techniques of renewable energy in the world

but its development has slowed down because of its high cost. A life-cycle calculation model is built to predict the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of tower STP plants in China

and the integrating factors

including construction cost

the electricity generation and the operation & maintenance costs

are considered one by one. This study focuses on the downward-trend of heliostats cost caused by various motivations

through a method of decomposition of the manufacturing costs into material

manufacturing and transport cost. The study shows that the LCOE is declined by the development of the motivations of production capacity

installed capacity and technical matter

and the installed capacity makes the most significant effect. This work is supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No. 2013AA050201

No. 2012AA041708).