Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) Market Overview
Posted on 18-November-2021
Space-based solar power (SBSP) involves collecting the sun’s energy in space and then wirelessly transmitting it to Earth. There are several benefits of solar energy. Although expensive, it is the cleanest source of renewable energy that has the capacity to provide more energy than the world consumes or is predicted to consume in the future.
A space-based solar power technological process includes using solar panels to collect solar energy in space with reflectors or inflatable mirrors that direct solar radiation onto solar panels, and then beaming it on Earth through a microwave or laser. The energy is then received on Earth via a microwave antenna (a rectenna).
Current Global Energy Consumption and Trends
The world’s energy consumption is only growing. According to a report by the University of Oxford’s Our World in Data, on the global primary energy consumption, the current world consumption is over 160,000 TWh annually. Solar energy contributes only 585 TWh.
Although there is an increase in renewable energy solutions, investments, and usage, oil, coal, and gas still generate more than 80% of the global energy that is consumed - with solar energy generating less than 1%.
Between 2004 and 2015, investments in renewable energy increased by 600% from £36.2 billion (US$46.7 billion) to £220.6 billion (US$284.8 billion).
Current predictions indicate that the world population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. With the increase in population, world energy consumption is also predicted to grow by 50% by 2050.
In addition, climate change impacts are accelerating. Although we generate a big percentage of the world's energy from fossil fuels, fossil fuels contribute significantly to the increase of climate change.
Comparatively, solar energy is the safest source of energy today - though it still only contributes a small percentage of global energy production. The death rates from solar production are 1,230 times lower than coal, and it has one of the lowest CO2 emissions, at 5g CO2 eq per kWh.
Current SBSP Projects and Progress
The key players in SBSP include China, the US, and Japan, who have shown progress in terms of technology advancements, partnerships, and launch plans.
China is already progressing to launch into space. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation plans to launch small to medium solar satellites in the stratosphere that can harness energy in space between 2021 and 2025.
China also plans to generate one megawatt of energy from space-based solar panels by 2030, and to be operating a commercially viable solar space station by 2050.
In the US, there are ongoing partnerships and investments. For example, a $100 million partnership between Northrop Grumman and U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has been established to provide advanced technology for SBSP.
Also in the US, a $17.5 million collaboration between Northrop Grumman Corporation and Caltech was set up to develop the space solar power project called ‘The Space Solar Power Initiative’. The initiative’s goal was to develop scientific and technological innovations that would enable a space-based solar power system generate electricity at a cost comparable to current sources of electricity.
There has been ongoing research and technological advancements. In the US, the development of the SPS-ALPHA Mark-II concept is underway. This, if successful, would enable the construction of huge platforms in space that can remotely deliver tens of thousands of megawatts of electricity to Earth, using wireless power transmissions. This will also enable the delivery of affordable power to Earth and on space missions.
In addition, progress is being made to build reusable launch systems. Success in this will lower the cost of transport to space and the overall cost of space-based solar power. An example is SpaceX, which is currently working on reusable launch vehicles that can be used for transport to space.
In Japan, researchers successfully transmitted electric power wirelessly using microwaves. Researchers transformed 1.8 kW of electric power into microwaves and accurately transmitted it into a receiver that was 55 meters away. This was a technological advancement towards bringing SBSP closer to reality. Japan also made space-based solar systems part of its future space exploration vision.
Source: greenmatch.co.uk | Image Source: en.reset.org
