The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy Will Pursue Recommendations of New NSSO-Led Study
Study Concludes Space Solar Power Could Deliver Clean, Renewable Energy for Planet, But Requires a Coordinated National Program of Investment
Source: National Space Society
Washington, D.C. Wednesday, October 10, 2007:
The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE), a new organization advocating investment in space-based solar power technologies to address the planet’s future energy needs, was announced today at the National Press Club.
The coalition of thirteen leading research organizations and space advocacy groups focused their inaugural event on the announcement of a new study of space-based solar power led by the National Security Space Office (NSSO).
The study concludes that space-based solar power deserves substantial national investment as a path towards addressing America’s future energy needs via a renewable energy source with no carbon emissions or hazardous waste. In the Space Solar Power concept, developed in the late nineteen-sixties by Dr. Peter Glaser, energy from sunlight is collected in space and transmitted wirelessly for use on Earth.
Mark Hopkins, Senior Vice President of the National Space Society, stated, “As the United States makes decisions now to answer the energy challenges of the next 50 years, space-based solar power must be a part of the answer. The NSSO-led study charts the path forward. While the technical challenges are real, significant investment now can build Space Solar Power into the ultimate energy source: clean, green, renewable, and capable of providing the vast amounts of power that the world will need. Congress, federal agencies and the business community should begin that investment immediately.”
The new Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE) will promote the findings of the NSSO-led study, and seek to communicate the benefits of the technology to business, government and the general public.
According to Air Force Colonel-Select M.V. ‘Coyote’ Smith, the leader of the study, “When we started this work I had my doubts about the technology. But as the facts poured in, it became obvious that my initial assessment was wrong. Not only is this possible, but space-based solar power is probably the greatest opportunity to develop a safe, clean source of energy that can readily be shared with all of humanity.”
The founding members of SSAFE are the National Space Society, Space Frontier Foundation, Space Power Association, Aerospace Technology Working Group, Marshall Institute, Moon Society, ShareSpace Foundation, Space Studies Institute, Spaceward Foundation, AIAA Space Colonization Technical Committee, ProSpace, Space Enterprise Council, and Space Generation Foundation.
I applaud the new NSSO interim study and the new conclusions for SBSP especially the most significant finding that it feasible to provide “… low‐intensity broadcast power beamed directly to consumers.” This is commercial WPT Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) using the unique capability of Wireless Power Transmission from Space to recharge end user products like WPT cell phones and WPT Hybrid autos.
This power beamed directly to consumers provides an immediate $1T End User Products that can be built now for ready markets will be the driving source for revenue and technologies used to build +GW Thin Film Solar Cell Manufacturing, improve the space launch market potential and optimize larger Grid Connected beam down systems as the manufacturing capability to build these comes online over the next 6 to 8 years.
This is astounding and very different from the currently impossible 15 GW arrays forwarded by SPS studies over the last 35 years. It is well known that the total of all solar cells made over the last 60 years amounts to less than 5 GW total as of 2007. Only the last 2 years, 2006 and 2007, has worldwide total production of solar cells exceeded 1 GW.
The largest planned space applications solar cell factory in development by Welsom Space Power Consortium will make 2 MW of TFSC for Ultra-lightweight CFRP Boom Space Arrays coming on line in 2009-2011. This will present the opportunity to manufacture and build the first space solar arrays in the Megawatt class to demonstrate commercial WPT for recharge of end user products from SBSP on a 1.2 MW Manned Capable Space Solar Array as delivered by the IAC September 25, 2007 Paper,” Early Commercial Demonstration of SPS.”
I have the feeling that Modern Space Based Solar Power can be counted to begin both from the September 25, 2007 paper and the October 10, 2007 NSSO SBSP Interim Report and meetings at JPL that occurred between those dates. 38 days into SBSP and counting you are all doing the best job imaginable! Great work for you all! I am very interested in your thoughts.
Friendly Greetings,
Kevin Reed