The achievements of recent years in the development and creation of tower-type solar power plants (SES) with a thermodynamic conversion cycle are analyzed; description of SES optical systems and principles of optimization of parameters of such systems are given; thermal diagrams of the first SES and preliminary results of their operation are considered; it is not the board of work on the creation of combined SES with Rankine and Brighton cycles that is analyzed; a description of heat storage systems and heat accumulators of various types for SES is given. The review is intended for specialists involved in the development, creation and operation of thermodynamic tower-type SESs and their main subsystems.