Space Solar Power
(SSP, also know as Space-Based Solar Power, or SBSP)
The United States and the world need to find new sources of clean
energy. Space Solar Power gathers energy from sunlight in space and
transmits it wirelessly to Earth. Space solar power can solve our energy
and greenhouse gas emissions problems. Not just help, not just take a
step in the right direction, but solve. Space solar power can provide
large quantities of energy to each and every person on Earth with very
little environmental impact.
The solar energy available in space is literally billions of times
greater than we use today. The lifetime of the sun is an estimated 4-5
billion years, making space solar power a truly long-term energy
solution. As Earth receives only one part in 2.3 billion of the Sun's
output, space solar power is by far the largest potential energy source
available, dwarfing all others combined. Solar energy is routinely used
on nearly all spacecraft today. This technology on a larger scale,
combined with already demonstrated wireless power transmission,
can supply nearly all the electrical needs of our planet.
Another need is to move away from fossil fuels for our transportation
system. While electricity powers few vehicles today, hybrids will soon
evolve into plug-in hybrids which can use electric energy from the grid.
As batteries, super-capacitors, and fuel cells improve, the gasoline
engine will gradually play a smaller and smaller role in transportation
- but only if we can generate the enormous quantities of electrical
energy we need. It doesn't help to remove fossil fuels from vehicles if
you just turn around and use fossil fuels again to generate the
electricity to power those vehicles.
Chaired by John Mankins of Artemis Innovation and participations by some of the prominent
space solar power researchers, the ISDC Space Solar Power Symposium promises to be a highlight of the conference.
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