Space Solar Power Via Prizes

By Al Globus, Posted 10/09/09

Link: http://space.alglobus.net/papers/sspContest.html

"Long term, Space Solar Power (SSP) could supply massive amounts of electrical power to Earth with no greenhouse gas emissions and no dependence on foreign energy sources. The basic idea: gather solar energy in space and transmit it to Earth.  However, SSP will be very hard to develop. The engineering problems are staggering and the economic problems perhaps even more difficult. While there is no market risk (the total energy market is measured in trillions of dollars), to be successful SSP must deliver energy at a price comparable to the alternatives.

Fortunately, there is a way that might work: prizes. The prize system I describe will deliver at least one working powersat for each billion dollars spent. Should no one build a working powersat, then the money won't be spent."  Check out his argument.