[ExI] British government commissions SBSP report

[Adrian Tymes]

Hopefully they will also examine the lunar-sourced option, which might be
within their budget.

On Mon, Nov 16, 2020 at 6:22 AM John Grigg via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> 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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