GREEN POWER - EXAMPLES

SPACE BASED SOLAR POWER, SBSP (JAPAN)

SMART WIND CONSORTIA (NORTH SEA)

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SPACE BASED SOLAR POWER
For more than 25 years a NASA programme for Space Based Solar Power,
SBSP, is in progress

Theory: Photovoltaic power plants in geostationary orbit generate electric

power which then is transformed into high energetic microwaves to be
transfered to the earth s surface where they are re-transfered by specific
uptaking transmitters into electric power again.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SPACE BASED SOLAR POWER
Realisation, however, is not easy since the costs for transport of
materials into the orbit are extremely high.

So far, no large-scale technique for transformation and transmission of

space based solar power is available.

In September 2008 long distance transmission of electric power via

microwaves was successfully tested from the Hawaiian island Maui
(Haleakala volcano) to the Mauna Loa volcano some 148 km away:
Frequency of the microwave used was 2,45 Gigahertz (such frequency
could be used in orbit). The experiment was sposored by Discovery
Chanel.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SPACE BASED SOLAR POWER
Japan belongs to those countries with just little access to natural
resources which leads to high import rates of crude oil. For these
reasons Japan is one of the leading nations in technical innovation
related to alternative energy generation. One of Japan s most exciting
protects is in the field of Space Solar Power Systems (SSPS)

The Japanese government invested around 15 bn in this project:

Collectors of several square km shall operate 36.000 km above surface in
orbit since the solar radiation intensity is 5 x stronger there than on earth.

The expected power from this project is ca. 1 GWh of electricity to supply
some 300.000 households.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SPACE BASED SOLAR POWER
One KWh of SBSP is calculated at 8 Yen (6 cent) which is equivalent to
only 20% of the current power costs in Japan (which is a very optimistic
assumption).

Since 1998 about 130 scientists have been working on the project.
Recently a consortium was started to realise the SBSP project (e.g.
Mitsubishi Electric).

In a few years a satelite will be send into orbit to test transmission of

microwaves in a larger scale. From 2020 on a pilot PV plant with a
capacity of 10 MW could be tested to be followd by installation of a 250
MW prototype plant.

In 2030 Japan plans to start a 1 GW SBSP plant.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SPACE BASED SOLAR POWER
Profitability of the Japanese SBSP project is considered critical due to
extreme high transport costs and still not proved large-scale long
distance power transmission. Many economists consider the 15 bn
funds from the Japanese governemnet not sufficient.

The US, too, plan to install huge solar collectors into orbit. The US
enterprise "Solaren" works on such a project to produce 200 MWh of
SBSP within the next 15 years. Realisation of this project, however, is
currently not sure due to insufficient fundings.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SMART WIND CONSORTIA
Largest offshore windpark in the world: Desertech of the North

The largest windpark project in the world will be installed with a total of 6400
turbines and an estimated power generation of 32 GW at the British coast
(Dogger Bank, east of Yorkshire). Until 2020 ca. 25% of the energy demand in the
whole of the U.K. shall be provided by windpower and sahll significantly reduce
GHG emissions (announced by the British Government and the Royal Crown
Estate on January 8, 2010).

A consortium consisting of the German RWE Innogy (CEO: Prof. Fritz Vahrenholdt)
along with some Norwegian enterprises (Statoil, Statkraft) and Scottish & Southern
Energy have won the 110 bn project.

Parts of the windpark project will be realized by a joint venture consisting of

Siemens and E.on (4 GW equivalent to ca. 6 bn ).

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SMART WIND CONSORTIA
First German offshore windpark alpha ventus
Since August 2009 the first German offshore windpark alpha ventus is
feeding power into the German net. 12 windpower plants north of Borkum
in the North Sea will provide 50 000 households with electricity.

According to the German Federal Authority of Sea Travel and Hydrography

(BSH) a total of 22 offshore windparks have been legaly approved until
middle of November 2009 19 of which in the North Sea and another 3 in
Baltic Sea.

The EU Commission recently called for a 1,5 bn fund to support offshore

windpower.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

HVDC SUPER GRID
9 EU countries (GER, UK, F, Belgium, DK, the Netherlands, Irland, Luxembourg and Norway)
have agreed to build a hightech HVDC net for interconnecting green power of various sources
until 2020. The volume of this project sums up to 30 bn .

High voltage direct current seafloor lines (HVDC) will link North Sea offshore windparks with
water power plants in Norway, tide power plants at the Danish and Belgian coasts as well as
terrestrial wind- and solar power plants. The goal is to substitute variations between wind,
water, geothermal and solar power.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

SUMMARY

Tracks for a
European green Investments and
consistent
power alliances innovation push
DeserTech Until 2020 ca. 140 bn
EU energy policy
Clear signals sent by
Smart wind consortia Until 2050 an additional
industry and politicians for
HVDC super grid min 400 bn
alternative energy
Several hundreds of
sources
thousands jobs

After the COP 15 disappointment Europe (and some

others countries) is pushing climate protection

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

REFERENCES
NSS Space Solar Power Library

NSS Position Paper on Space Solar Power [PDF]

Brochure on Space-Based Solar Power [PDF]

www.energie-experten.org
http://archiv.sueddeutsche.de/sueddz/index.php?id=A46498758_
OGTPOGWPOPPOPSGSPSEAGWETGRARTHCST

Prof. Dr. Bernd Delakowitz 4/14/2010

MANY THANKS, AGAIN