Space-Based Solar Power Efforts

Acquiring Solar Energy Directly from the Source

Earth-based solar panels can never function at optimal capacity. Atmospheric Interference and weather conditions make "peak capacity" a relative term. Space based solar panels, however, will always function at optimal capacity, since they have direct high-exposure ratings to sunlight. Although it is feasible that we might be able to meet all our renewable energy needs with solar panels on Earth, some are calling for the launch and setup of a large solar power platform in high orbit around the Earth.

With the right technology to set up a solar station in space already in place, a seemingly infinite supply of power from the sun, an impending energy crisis on Earth, and with a more efficient means of collecting solar energy than ever before - why are there no large-scale space-based solar panel installations?

The answer is simple: Cost

Cost and Profitability

Terrestrial solar panels still remain significantly less profitable to operate than competing fossil fuel alternatives, which are at present hovering around $2/watt, and the cost per watt of setting up a space based solar energy station seems even less profitable. Certainly, such a station could be set up, but for a private corporation to undertake such a challenge to build Earth's first large-scale space based solar energy collector, a number of fixed and variable costs must be assessed. Using economies of scale, it becomes clear that only a large-scale operation could hope to be profitable: the prodigious fixed cost of launching the solar panel array into space would have to be minimized if the company hopes to reap any profit at all. Only a truly large-scale operation could manage this. In addition to the fixed cost of constructing and launching the solar energy orbital or space-based platform, the founders of the first space-based solar energy plant would also have to take into consideration the cost of maintaining the station and beaming the collected solar energy back to Earth.

Advances in solar panel technology and the impending privitization of the space industry should hone costs down steadily in the coming decades, by as much as 200-600%. Competition in the space industry should reduce the fixed cost of launching or carrying an orbital solar power station into space, and solar panel advances should improve performance (and profitability) per solar panel unit.

In the worst case scenario, if the costs of launching and constructing a solar power station in orbit aren't driven down by these two factors, we may have to wait for the construction of Earth's first space-elevator before transport of the necessary materials to orbit becomes economically feasible.

Solar Station on the Moon?

Others have proposed setting up a Lunar solar power station. The lunar solar power station would be set up by first launching the raw materials to the moon, constructing the station directly on the moon to reduce costs, and keeping the station on the moon to further keep costs down. Since the moon has no atmosphere, and the oribtal period of the moon keeps it the same side in constant alignment with the Earth, a continous stream of energy from the moon could be beamed to Earth at a lower cost than setting up a space-based solar power installation. Solar panels on the surface of the moon would be quite nearly as effective as space-based solar panels due to the lack of an atmosphere.

Construction of the space-based solar panel array

Construction of the solar power station in orbit require a feasible and fiscally reasonable means of assembling kilometer scale structures in space. The project is obviously too large and would require to much energy to be assembled and launched from Earth, so unfortunately the delicate task of construction in space must be addressed. Manual construction using conventional robotics and manpower would be rather expensive, and are estimated to be will above cost-efficient margins. However, with more research and development in advanced robotics, teleoperation, and cost-effective methods of orbital construction, a space-based solar station might just be one step closer to reality.

Beaming home the solar energy

"Beaming" the solar energy collection by the space-based solar station would require the reservation of radio waves for the transmission of solar energy. This step is obviously going to furrow some brows, but it may be necessary if we wish to harvest the abundant renewable energy resources found in space.

What's being done

Currently? Nothing monumental. Apart from plans stated by the Japanese government which vaguely outline the possible construction of a solar power station in space some time before 2040, few plans have been drawn up for the construction of an orbital solar power station. Research into associated fields and theorization is rampant, but no actionable plans have been drawn up. However, as the decade progresses, advances in launch technology, robotics technology, and space-based construction of massive objects will further reduce the non-profitability margin of setting up a large-scale space based solar power station. We can only hope that the driving forces of a diminishing fossil fuel supply, an accelerating demand for energy, and the push of technological progress will help bring about a large-scale solar panel array in space. The station would be a huge boon to human progress and a vital part of collecting Earth's renewable energy resources.