The calcium looping (CaL) technique, renowned for its exceptional ability to withstand high temperatures and remarkable heat storage capacity, perfectly complements 3rd generation concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. However, the poor cycling stability and low spectrum absorption rate of CaO obstruct system efficiency. In order to tackle these problems, we impregnated steel slag with acetic acid and doped Mn to create a novel CaO-based energy storage material. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and fixed-bed cycling of the material revealed that the material has outstanding cyclic heat storage properties. Compared to CaO, the material has an 85 % higher initial adsorption rate, 73 % higher 30-cycle energy storage density, and 9.5 times higher average light absorption. Spherical pellets were prepared for industrial applications through the extrusion-spheronization method. The energy storage density for 30 cycles was reduced by 10.26 % for the pellets compared to the powder material, but the average light absorption rate was improved. The compressive strength of the composite pellets was 8.4 times higher than the dolomite pellets. It was found that the light absorption capacity of the material increased with the number of cycles, which was attributed to the migration of Mn and Mg from the interior to the surface. Finally, the excellent photothermal conversion capability of the new composite material was verified by the photothermal conversion test. Therefore, Mn-doped CaO-based composite material derived from steel slag is promising for application in the next-generation CaL-CSP system.