Figure 1: SSP concept
Space solar power (SSP) is the most efficient theoretical concept to generate and transmit solar-powered electricity to the earth. The beauty of the concept lies in the ‘never-ending’ delivery of clean renewable energy to terrestrial power grids. Some of the important benefits lie below:
Figure 1 shows a diagram of the SSP concept.
“Reason” is a 1941 science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov, in which a space station uses microwave beams to transmit solar energy to various planets. In November 1968, SBSP, originally called SSPS, was first described. A U.S. patent number 3,781,647 was granted to Peter Glaser in 1973 for his method of transmission of power over long distances (e.g. from a satellite to Earth’s surface) using microwaves from a large antenna (up to one square kilometre) on the satellite to a much larger antenna on the ground.
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Application-based ideas backing the export of Renewable Energy generation technology to space are as follows:
THE FIRST 10,000 DAYS ON MARS (Timelapse
Space-Based Solar Power offers a range of desirable characteristics:
Energy Generation
Security and Economics
Grid Integration
Environmental Impact
Delivering Net Zero
Flexible Energy
See Also: 10 Strong Reasons – Why solar energy is important for the future
Yes, it is feasible. Most space agencies are developing several SBSP projects estimated to be completed by the year 2050. Let’s have a look at the risks involved as below:
Development of Space-Based Solar Power would be a substantial undertaking, primarily because of the size of the system, and the need to assemble and integrate this in space. The solar power satellite would be an order of magnitude larger in mass and extent than any spacecraft currently in orbit.
One of the major considerations in achieving the necessary performance is the power-to-mass ratio (kW/ kg) of the solar power satellite. This requires a low system mass, and efficient power transfer through the energy chain from the solar photovoltaic panels in space, to the electricity grid. The overall power-to-mass ratio is around 0.5 – 1.0 kW/kg, which is considered ambitious but feasible given a development programme.
The key risks and considerations are:
Political
Economic
Social
Technological
Legal
Environmental and safety
Long seen as an attractive but unaffordable source of clean energy, the proponents of Space-Based Solar Power suggest that over the last decade it has become both technically feasible and economically viable.
There are several reasons behind this renewed global interest in Space-Based Solar Power:
To understand the launch cost scenario let us take a solar panel mass of 20kg per kilowatt (Exclusive of the mass of supporting components like structure, antenna, focusing mirrors, etc.), 80,000 metric tons can be the weight of a 4GW power station.
SBSP launching cost still thwarts the optimists, given the practical scenario of space payload launch technologies and the cost associated. However, as more and more commercial and cost-effective launching technologies are coming due time, we are optimistic that SBSP can be soon turned into reality towards a sustainable future, just as we at Waaree are growing towards the technological breakthrough of a PV module technology, having developed technologies like MBB, HJT, Merlin PV modules.
How Waaree can help?
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Waaree Energies Ltd. is the flagship company of Waaree Group, founded in 1989 with headquarters in Mumbai, India. It has India’s largest Solar panel manufacturing capacity of 5GWs at its plants in Surat and Umbergaon in Gujarat. Waaree Energies is amongst the top players in India in Solar Panel Manufacturing, EPC Services, Project Development, Rooftop Solutions, and Solar Water Pumps and is also an Independent Power Producer. Waaree has its presence in over 380 locations nationally and 20 countries internationally. Step on to your cleaner journey by contacting us at 18002121321or mail us at waaree@waaree.com
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