Space-based solar power

(SBSP)
Trends of Concern
Future Energy Options Must Be…
 Introduction
Space-based solar power (SBSP) is the concept of collecting solar power
in space (using an "SPS", that is, a "solar-power satellite" or a "satellite
power system") for use on Earth.
It has been in research since the early 1970s.
 How it would differ
• SBSP would differ from current solar collection methods in that the
means used to collect energy would reside on an orbiting satellite
instead of on Earth's surface.
• Higher collection rate and a longer collection period due to the lack of
a diffusing atmosphere and nighttime in space

Solar Intensity
No Night Min Weather
1,366 W/m2

Space Solar
Solar Intensity
1,000 W/m2 Night Loss Weather Loss
Ground Solar
 Basic Concept

• Part of the solar energy is lost on its way through the atmosphere by
the effects of reflection and absorption.

• Space-based solar power systems convert sunlight to microwaves or

Laser beam outside the atmosphere, avoiding these losses, and the
downtime (and cosine losses, for fixed flat-plate collectors) due to the
Earth's rotation.
 History
• Originally known as satellite solar-power system (SSPS), was first described in November
1968.

• In 1973 Peter Glaser was granted U.S. patent for his method of transmitting power over
long distances using microwaves from a very large antenna (up to one square kilometer)
on the satellite to a much larger one, now known as a rectenna, on the ground.

• Between 1978 and 1981, the US Congress authorized the Department of Energy (DoE)
and NASA to jointly investigate the concept.

• In 1997 NASA conducted its "Fresh Look" study to examine the modern state of SBSP
feasibility.

• On Nov 2, 2012, China proposed space collaboration with India in SBSP

 Requirements for Space Solar Power
• Low-cost, environmentally-friendly launch vehicles.

• Large scale in-orbit construction and operations: To gather massive

quantities of energy, solar power satellites must be large, far larger
than the International Space Station (ISS).

• Power transmission: To transmit power from satellites to the Earth’s

surface with minimal environmental impact.
 Design
Space-based solar power essentially consists of three elements:

• a means of collecting solar power in space, for example via solar

concentrators, solar cells or a heat engine.
• a means of transmitting power to earth, for example via microwave
or laser.
• a means of receiving power on earth, for example via a microwave
antenna (rectenna).
 Microwave power transmission
• Power transmission via radio waves can be made more directional, allowing
longer distance power beaming, with shorter wavelengths of electromagnetic
radiation, typically in the microwave range.

• A rectenna may be used to convert the microwave energy back into electricity.

• NASA Study of solar power satellites required a 1-km diameter transmitting

antenna, and a 10 km diameter receiving rectenna, for a microwave beam at 2.45
GHz.

• Experiments in the tens of kilowatts have been performed .

• Conversion efficiency under experimental conditions was measured to be around

54% efficient.
 Laser power beaming
Power can be transmitted by converting electricity into a laser beam that is
then pointed at a photovoltaic cell.

Compared to other wireless methods:

• Collimated monochromatic wavefront propagation allows narrow beam
cross-section area for transmission over large distances.

• Compact size: solid state lasers fit into small products.

• No radio-frequency interference to existing radio communication such as

Wi-Fi and cell phones.

• Access control: only receivers hit by the laser receive power.

 Earth-based receiver

• The Earth-based rectenna would likely consist of many short dipole

antennas connected via diodes.

• Microwave broadcasts from the satellite would be received in the

dipoles with about 85% efficiency.

• Rectennas would likely be several kilometers across.

Rectenna
 Challenges
The most significant technical challenges are the development of
• Low-cost re-usable space access
• Dealing with launch costs
• Demonstration of space-to-Earth power beaming
• Efficient and light space-qualified solar arrays
• Space Assembly, Maintenance and Servicing, and
• Large in-space structures
 Conclusion
The solar energy available in space is literally billions of times greater
than we use today. Space solar power is by far the largest potential
energy source available, dwarfing all others combined.
This technology on a larger scale, combined with already demonstrated
wireless power transmission can supply nearly all the electrical needs
of our planet.
Space solar power can completely solve our energy problems long
term. The sooner we start and the harder we work, the shorter "long
term" will be.
 References
• http://www.nss.org/settlement/ssp/
• http://martianchronicles.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/our-burning-
need-for-energ/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-
based_solar_power#Microwave_power_transmission
• http://spacesolarpower.files.wordpress.com