2009-04-15

Space Based Solar Power

Clipped from: YouTube - Space Based Solar Power - Alternative Energy Solution



Clipped from: Space-based solar power - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Space-based solar power (SBSP) (or historically space solar power (SSP)) is a theoretical design for the collection of solar powerspace, for use on Earth. SBSP differs from the usual method of solar power collection in that the solar panels used to collect the energy would reside on a satellite in orbit, often referred to as a solar power satellite (SPS), rather than on Earth's surface. In space, collection of the Sun's energy is unaffected by the day/night cycle, weather, seasons, or the filtering effect of Earth's atmospheric gases. Average solar energy per unit area outside Earth's atmosphere is on the order of ten times that available on Earth's surface.
Clipped from: YouTube - Space Based Solar Power


Clipped from: Major Utility Company Makes Agreement for Space Based Solar Power | Universe Today


Major Utility Company Makes Agreement for Space Based Solar Power




One of the largest utility companies in the US has decided to look towards space to find more power. Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) in California announced a proposed agreement with startup company Solaren Corporation to provide 200 mega watts of space based solar power (SBSP) starting in 2016.

Solaren Corporation is a small, 8-year-old company based in California whose executives have experience working for Boeing and Lockheed Martin. According to PG&E’s website, Solaren says it plans to generate the power using solar panels in earth orbit, then convert it to radio frequency energy for transmission to a receiving station in California. From there, the energy will be converted to electricity and fed into PG&E’s power grid

Clipped from: FOXNews.com - California Utility to Capture Solar Power in Space - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News

FOX News.com

California Utility to Capture Solar Power in Space




Solaren would use solar panels on satellites in orbit to capture the sun's power, and then convert it into radio frequency energy that could beam down to a receiving station. The energy would then undergo a conversion to electricity and feed into PG&E's power grid.

Having solar panels in orbit could provide a clean, reliable source of solar power that avoids the interruptions of cloudy days and bad weather on Earth. That tempting prospect has led NASA and the U.S. Defense Department to investigate possibilities for space solar power, despite the hefty cost of launching solar panels into orbit.

Clipped from: Space Solar Power

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Space Solar Power

Limitless clean energy from space



Sources:
  1. YouTube - Space Based Solar Power - Alternative Energy Solution
  2. Space-based solar power - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  3. YouTube - Space Based Solar Power
  4. Major Utility Company Makes Agreement for Space Based Solar Power | Universe Today
  5. FOXNews.com - California Utility to Capture Solar Power in Space - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News
  6. Space Solar Power

Related:
  1. Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  2. Space-Based Solar Power Coming to California in 2016
  3. Space Race: Are Solar Satellites the Next Big Thing? - Environmental Capital - WSJ
  4. The final frontier: Solar power from space | Green Tech - CNET News
  5. Beam Me Down, Scotty: PG&E Wants to Generate Space-Based Solar Power | Sustainability | Fast Company
  6. Solar Power From Space
  7. Solaren Corp to supply California with space-based solar power