Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Space-Based Solar Power
Space-Based Solar Power
(SBSP)
Future Energy Options Must Be…
Introduction
• In 1973 Peter Glaser was granted U.S. patent for his method of transmitting power over
long distances using microwaves from a very large antenna (up to one square kilometer)
on the satellite to a much larger one, now known as a rectenna, on the ground.
• Between 1978 and 1981, the US Congress authorized the Department of Energy (DoE) and
NASA to jointly investigate the concept.
• In 1997 NASA conducted its "Fresh Look" study to examine the modern state of SBSP
feasibility.
• Part of the solar energy is lost on its way through the atmosphere by
the effects of reflection and absorption.
Solar Intensity
No Night Min Weather
1,366 W/m2
Space Solar
Solar Intensity
1,000 W/m2 Night Loss Weather Loss
Ground Solar
Requirements for Space Solar Power
• Low-cost, environmentally-friendly launch vehicles.
Rectenna used
convert microwave
energy to electricity
Challenges
The most significant technical challenges are the development of
• Low-cost re-usable space access
• Dealing with launch costs
• Demonstration of space-to-Earth power beaming
• Efficient and light space-qualified solar arrays
• Space Assembly, Maintenance and Servicing,
Conclusion
• The solar energy available in space is literally billions of times
greater than we use today. Space solar power is by far the largest
potential energy source available.
• This technology on a larger scale, combin.ed with already
demonstrated wireless power transmission can supply nearly all the
electrical needs of our planet.
• Space solar power can completely solve our energy problems long
term. The sooner we start and the harder we work, the shorter
"long term" will be.
Thank you
Presented by
M. Anusha
EEE