Solar panels in space could potentially reduce Europe's dependence on earth-bound renewable energy sources by as much as 80 percent.
The economics of space are changing, thanks to advancements in reusable rockets, orbital robotics, and wireless power transmission. One such revolutionary concept is Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP), a technology that could potentially transform Europe's energy landscape.
The idea of SBSP was first proposed by engineer Peter Glaser in the late 1960s. Today, it's no longer just a theoretical concept, but could one day become a reality. A new study published in Joule suggests that by 2050, SBSP could radically reshape Europe's energy system.
Solar panels in space would bask in nearly uninterrupted sunlight due to their positioning, capturing sunlight about 60% of the time. This constant power source, unaffected by weather conditions, could potentially provide a clean, constant power source.
Two designs have emerged as particularly promising: the heliostat design and the simpler planar array design. The heliostat design, when plugged into a model of Europe's 2050 energy grid, emerged as a game-changer. It displaced massive amounts of wind and solar and reduced the need for expensive batteries by more than 70%. The heliostat swarm design, a concept from the study, could deliver near-constant power with 99.7% annual availability.
The simpler planar array design, on the other hand, could capture sunlight about 60% of the time. While it may not be as efficient as the heliostat design, it still presents a significant potential for reducing Europe's reliance on terrestrial wind and solar by as much as 80%.
To get the power back to Earth, satellites would convert sunlight into microwaves and beam it down to vast receiving stations called rectennas. There are potential risks associated with SBSP, such as the public backlash against living near microwave beams and the possibility of collisions or damage from space debris. However, the study suggests that it's time to take space-based solar power seriously, begin experiments, set policies, and test risks to prepare for potential technological maturity.
Besides Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States have also incorporated space-based solar power into their national energy and space strategies. Even countries like India and Russia are running their own space-based solar power programs. Europe risks falling behind other nations if it hesitates in pursuing space-based solar power.
With advancements in technology and a commitment to experimentation and policy-making, space-based solar power could potentially reduce Europe's reliance on fossil fuels and much of the land-based renewable buildout by 2050. It's an exciting time for the future of clean energy, and space-based solar power is a key player in that future.
