Is Space-Based Solar a Game Changer?

[Nathanael]

This piece is an exploration into the fascinating subject of generating solar power from space. It's another clean tech innovation that may seem out of touch with "reality," but it actually is not as far fetched as it seems.



California has never been shy about embracing the latest technology and on April 10, 2009, California quietly made history again.

Pacific Gas and Electric applied to regulators to approve an unusual power purchase contract with Solaren Corp, which plans to launch an array of giant solar power collectors into orbit 23,000 miles above Earth and beam the energy to Earth to a collector facility near Fresno.

Why should investors keep an eye on this unorthodox pilot project? Because this is the first attempt in history to commercialize space-based solar power (SBSP). If it works and is profitable, it has the potential to change the entire energy sector.

Link: http://www.energyboom.com/space-based-solar-game-changer

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. "beam the energy to earth"

For the life of me, I can't see what could go wrong with that.

[dbonds]

5. Think of the electro-magnetic field that would create.

Probably be a radio free zone for many miles surrounding that beam. And woe the stray airplane pilot that flys into the beam, or space shuttle, birds. Not to mention all the ground effects like cancer, depression and others from being anywhere near the electro-magnetic field.

Oh, and what happens when a stray cloud gets in the way of the beam.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. Or they could beam the light directly to earth.

Kind of like a macro version of an ant cooker.

[hatrack]

2. Having a platform that could lift to high Earth orbit would be a good start . . .

Of course, the Space Shuttle can't even do that, and it's retiring, when, 2010? 2011?

[zipplewrath]

3. Been around a while

There are alot of variables here. This has been kicked around for years. It has some hills to climb

1) It isn't clear what the overall energy transfer efficiency will be.
2) It is potentially alot of weight to put 23,000 miles up there.
3) Solar cells aren't all that efficient, and don't last forever in those environments
4) There is a bit of concern about pumping energy to earth that was never intended to reach earth.
5) A bit like the wind mills, the interaction of this stuff with wildlife is pretty much a guess right now.
6) The total system maintenance costs are a guess right now.

[hatrack]

4. Plus pissing away a couple of trillion to defend Sacred Credit Default Swaps didn't help either . .

I'm sorry, this was going to cost money?

[zipplewrath]

7. Return on investment

Even apart from the functional economics of this plan, depending upon the efficiencies achieved, you could be spending alot of cash for very few kilowatts. It might be money better spend just putting solar on terra firma.

[The Croquist]

12. There's something else to worry about too

This would be in geosynchronous orbit. That means that most of the time it is getting sunlight it is shading the earth. Sunlight is good, It is important. As I type this my vegetables are absorbing it, slowly growing so that in the prime of their lives I can pluck them and give them a painful death in the acidic confines of my stomach.

Even if it cuts down on just 1% of the sunlight reaching the planet it is cutting down on energy used by plants by 1%. Those plants make oxygen from carbon dioxide, food and generally look pretty. Now if you can put my weeds in the shade we might have something...

I expect to see this about two weeks before I expect to see commercial fusion plants. I expect to go to the gas station in a day or so.

[NickB79]

6. Without building a space elevator first, this idea is dead in the water. n/t

[tinrobot]

8. Can we put some more solar panels on the ground first?

[IrateCitizen]

10. Hell, let's just jump straight to dilithium crystals and warp drive!!!

Space-based solar? Cold fusion? That stuff is for beginners!

:crazy:

[kristopher]

11. Crazy pie in the sky? Maybe, maybe not.

This was discussed here 2 months ago. There might be some comments of interest:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=193309&mesg_id=193309