World's 1st Space-Based Solar Power

The California Public Utilities Commission has approved a plan for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to buy space-based solar power from Solaren Corp -a first-of-its kind space-based solar project that uses orbiting satellites equipped with solar cells to convert the sun's energy into electricity. The stealth startup, which has a retro Web site that looks like a 1980's video game, plans to use satellites outfitted with mirrors and solar photovoltaic panels that send power via radio frequency to a receiving station in Fresno.

As part of the contract, PG&E will purchase 1,700 gigawatt hours each year for 15 years. That's enough to generate power for thousands of homes. Solaren's power won't be cheap--PG&E estimates that it will cost more than 12.9 cents per kilowatt-hour (the standard rate), so the utility is obviously betting that costs will eventually come down. Space-based solar power also has the advantage of being available 24/7, unlike ground-based solar panels that only work during the day.

If all goes according to plan, Solaren's satellites will go live in 2016. Pilot tests have yet to be conducted, however, so the viability of the company's plan is still up in the air. Solaren isn't the only organization looking to take advantage of space solar. The Japanese government also plans to have a pilot space-based solar project ready by 2015.

Jason McManus

[Via San Francisco Chronicle]

Comments

[claudio]

It seems a quite 'fancy program'.

The stated availability of solar power for 24h/day is conflicting with the the FACT that planet earth rotates and then California ( as any other place at that latitude) sees the sunlight for some 8 to 12 hr/day....depending on the season of the year.

This means that if the satellite is in Geostationary orbit (Clarcke orbit), it will see the sunlight for some 20Hr/day and NOT for h24 as said in the article.

If the satellite is in 'low orbit' the situation become worst in term of illumination .
It will see the light of the sun for much less than 20hr/day (PLS refer to ISS situation)and in addition the antenna on the ground must track it and the on board antenna must track the antenna on the ground.

Then the worst problem : the so called conversion from DC power (the one of the PVC on board) to RF power is everything BUT NOT EFFICIENT.

THE OTHER PROBLEMS RELATES TO THE CAPABILITY FOR THE ON BOARD AND ON THE GROUND ANTENNA TO HANDLE ALL THAT RF-POWER and to the various other 'environmental issues' such as : should the on board antenna be 'mispointed' (a failure ??) it will burn the poor humans under the footprint of the uncontrolled beam like eggs in the MW oven.

Is the project serious or is just BULL-SHIT to provide some government financing to some company ...somewhere in the west coast ?????

Regards to the people that finance serious projects....and NOT bull-shit.

[Andrew T]

More than 13 cents/kWh? Just how much more? I was under the impression that space-based power was nowhere near to being economically viable.

Oh, and here's the link for Solaren Corp.: http://www.solarenspace.com/ The only live link on the page is for a "contact us" email address.

[john]

Learn about the new AB 811 that allows homeowner's finance their new solar panels from the State www.ab811application.org . Not only are there huge Federal Tax Incentives, State Cash Rebates, but you can also have the State lend you money at LOW interest rates to install solar panels. Learn all details and apply for Assembly Bill 811 at www.ab811application.org

[Dredd]

The trolls of the oil world will be gainsaying this project you speak of, but it is going to be cheaper long term than the ones like oil that are killing us.

After all a live and healthy earth is worth quite a bit.

[rick386]

This is the dumbest thing I ever heard of. They wanna transfer energy to the surface via 'radio waves'? IT would be more like a giant microwave oven in the sky. I wonder what would happen to a plane that flew thru this energy beam? Utility scale power plant in space. Hmmm. The logistics are maddenly expensive.

[Ehud]

This tech seemed to work just fine in SimCity 2000...
Solaren's website does, however, help me fully trust in their ability to execute technically complex projects. :)

[dextercath96]

Your post is good. Solar power in spaced is producing lots of energy to electrify the space. Solar Power Generator is the best alternative energy that can be use.