[ExI] British government commissions SBSP report

[John Grigg]

Could Britain actually afford such an expensive space venture? I thought
such projects were beyond their economic limits, despite having the
technical know-how.

John

On Sat, Nov 14, 2020 at 10:56 PM Tom Nowell via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> In today's news that doesn't concern covid, brexit or political
> infighting, the UK government issued a press release today about space
> based solar power.
>
> UK government commissions space solar power stations research
> <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-commissions-space-solar-power-stations-research>
>
> UK government commissions space solar power stations research
>
> Solar energy harvested in space offers the potential for an unlimited and
> constant zero carbon power source
>
> <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-commissions-space-solar-power-stations-research>
>
>
>
> The UK government has commissioned new research into space-based solar
> power (SBSP) systems that would use very large solar power satellites to
> collect solar energy, convert it into high-frequency radio waves, and
> safely beam it back to ground-based receivers connected to the electrical
> power grid.
>
> It is an idea first conjured by science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov in
> 1941, and is now being studied by several nations because the lightweight
> solar panels and wireless power transmission technology is advancing
> rapidly. This, together with lower cost commercial space launch, may make
> the concept of solar power satellites more feasible and economically viable.
>
> Now the UK in 2020 will explore whether this renewable technology could
> offer a resilient, safe and sustainable energy source.
>
> The study, led by Frazer-Nash Consultancy, will consider the engineering
> and economics of such a system – whether it could deliver affordable energy
> for consumers, and the engineering and technology that would be required to
> build it. One of the biggest issues to overcome is assembling the massive
> satellites in orbit, which has not been done before at this scale.
>
> Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
>
> The Sun never sets in space, so a space solar power system could supply
> renewable energy to anywhere on the planet, day or night, rain or shine. It
> is an idea that has existed for decades, but has always felt decades away.
>
> The UK is growing its status as a global player in space and we have bold
> plans to launch small satellites in the coming years. Space solar could be
> another string to our bow, and this study will help establish whether it is
> right for the UK.
>
> Historically, the cost of rocket launches and the weight that would be
> required for a project of this scale made the idea of space-based solar
> power unfeasible. But the emergence of privately-led space ventures has
> brought the cost of launch down dramatically in the last decade.
>
> Martin Soltau, Space Business Manager at Frazer-Nash outlined what the
> study will involve:
>
> Decarbonising our economy is vital. We need to explore new technologies to
> provide clean, affordable, secure and dependable energy for the nation.
> SBSP has the potential to contribute substantially to UK energy generation,
> and offers many benefits if it can be made practical and affordable.
>
> Frazer-Nash is studying the leading international solar power satellite
> designs, and we will be drawing up the engineering plan to deploy an
> operational SBSP system by 2050. We are forming an expert panel, comprised
> of leading SBSP experts and space and energy organisations, to gain a range
> of industry views.
>
> We will compare SBSP alongside other forms of renewable energy, to see how
> it would contribute as part of a future mix of clean energy technologies.
>
> We have also partnered with Oxford Economics, who have significant
> experience in the space sector and who will provide additional insight to
> the economic assessment of the system, and the benefit to the UK economy.
>
> As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, prominent
> research institutions and government agencies are focusing new money and
> attention on novel approaches to reduce global warming.
>
> In 2019, Britain passed an important milestone, with more electricity
> generated from sources like wind, solar and nuclear power, that produce
> almost no carbon dioxide emissions, than from carbon-emitting fuels like
> natural gas and coal.
>
> According to the World Resources Institute – a Washington-based non-profit
> that tracks climate change – Britain has reduced carbon dioxide generated
> in the country by about 40 per cent, which is more than any other major
> industrialised country.
>
> As the National Space Council sets a new direction for our space policy,
> the UK Space Agency is committed to understanding the future opportunities
> space technologies open up.
>
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