Solar Power: Web Articles
Next100 - A Dialogue on the Next Century of Energy
"When President Obama visits India in a couple of weeks to help cement the two countries’ strategic and economic relationship, he should make room on the agenda for a visionary plan to create a joint space-based solar energy program. That’s the provocative recommendation of a recent report drafted by a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and published by the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, a think tank based in New Delhi and funded by India’s defense ministry." There is also significant NASA-related interest in this topic as seen by the agenda (Session #6) for the October 29-31, 2010 Space Studies Institute conference at NASA Ames Research Center. International interest in the space community is growing and discussions that may lead to effective collaborations are already underway.
Europe Joins the Space (Solar Power) Race | Next 100
"While Solaren (a U.S. solar energy firm) and JAXA (the Japanese Space Agency) envision beaming power via radio waves, Astrium (a European aerospace giant) is working instead on high-powered infrared lasers to carry the energy. Astrium is also collaborating with scientists at the University of Surrey to develop devices that convert infrared energy to electricity. Its chief technology officer says a space mission to demonstrate the technology should be feasible within five years, according to Aviation Week and Space Technology.
Solaren's Nansen said the United States lags in the development of space solar power, despite many years of studying its potential, because NASA says it's an energy program, and the Department of Energy says it's a space program. So unless private U.S. companies can deliver, expect Japan, Europe or even Russia to take the lead.
Nansen, like a growing number of experts believes space must become the next great source of clean energy here on Earth. Agree or not, you can believe him when he says, "I’ve worked on this long enough to know it’s not easy."
European space company wants solar power plant in space | PhysOrg.Com
"EADS Astrium, Europe's biggest space company, plans to put a solar power satellite in orbit to demonstrate the collection of solar power in space and its transmission via infrared laser to provide electricity on Earth."
"The transmission of power via infrared laser has been tested in Astrium’s laboratories, and they are now concentrating on improving the system’s efficiency. Work on developing converters...[for] received infrared energy to electricity is proceeding rapidly, and Astrium is collaborating in this work with scientists at the University of Surrey, in the UK. The company is hoping to achieve 80% efficiency in the conversion."
The End of Magical Climate Thinking | Foreign Policy
"The Obama administration succumbed, like many others, to a sort of magical climate thinking that promised a painless and even prosperous transition to a low-carbon future with the tools already at hand. The only official within his administration to accurately grasp the technology challenges faced, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, was sidelined at crucial moments. Here is the back story of how the Obama administration dramatically raised and then dashed America's -- and the world's -- hopes that 2009 would be a pivotal year for remaking our collective energy future." This article places blame on both government and green energy advocates for "magical thinking" about what will surely at minimum be a tough, expensive, decades-long slog. The importance of space infrastructure advancements, especially by the private sector, to developing innovative lower-cost solar power and biospheric and climate monitoring systems will be major. Earth and its environment are increasingly understood as one evolving macro-ecosystem traveling through space over eons.
Space Solar Power Via Prizes
"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.
An Electrifying Conference? | The Space Review
"It was the best of conferences, it was the worst of conferences. It was the SPACE Canada 2009 International Forum on Solar Energy from Space, held at the Ontario Science Centre September 8–10. Never have the prospects for space-based solar power (SBSP) looked better technically—or more challenging economically and politically." A top-level review of several new options, some current projects and remaining big challenges, is provided.
Japan Plans $21 Billion Solar Space Post to Power 294,000 Homes
"The concept of space-based solar power was introduced way back in 1968, but it’s only recently that the world has latched on to the idea. Japan is definitely getting in on the action with its latest spacey plan - a $21 billion solar-powered generator in the heavens to produce one gigawatt of energy, or enough to power 294,000 homes. The Japanese government announced the plan back in June, but there has been an important new development - Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and industrial design company IHI Corp. are now teaming up in the race to develop new technology within four years that can beam electricity back to Earth without the use of cables."
'Space-based solar power could solve energy crisis' - Interviews/Opinion | The Times of India
"Peter Garretson is a futurist and transformational strategist. He previously served as the chief of Future Science and Technology Exploration for the US Air Force and is presently an international visiting fellow at the Indian Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). He tells Rajan Somasundaram why space-based solar power (SBSP) could revolutionize power generation forever." "Former president A P J Abdul Kalam has suggested that SBSP be made a national and international goal." India is one of several space faring nations that want to conduct space-based R&D with solar power generation. An international project (with national elements) should be studied as soon as possible with consideration for conducting an International Space Station pilot study as part of the assessment.
Japan Shooting For Space-Based Solar Power | Nikkei.Com
"The government will by the end of 2009 start developing technologies designed to eventually beam electricity from solar panels in space down to earth. A public solicitation for firms to participate in the endeavor will soon be made and the government expects the electronics and heavy electric machinery industries to participate. The team will first attempt to transmit microwaves for a distance of around 10m with the hope is to extend this to 100m within three to five years. The government plans to launch a small satellite in 2015 to conduct preliminary experiments in space."
PowerSat Files Patent App for Space Solar Power Technology | Parabolic Arc
"Solar from space: It may sound like a bad sci-fi movie, but a growing number of companies think it could solve the world’s energy crisis. Among them is Everett, Wash.-based PowerSat Corp., which said today it’s filed a provisional patent for two technologies it claims could help make the transmission of solar power from space more cost-effective. CEO William Maness also told us that the 8-year-old company has received commitments for $3-$5 million in angel funding, which it’s using to develop wireless power demonstrations on Earth, and is currently in negotiations for a first venture round in the single-digit millions. The PowerSat news comes after Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based Solaren, another space solar company, in April signed a deal to provide power to northern California utility PG&E. And Swiss startup Space Energy recently said it’s working to launch a prototype satellite into space in 2-3 years."