Space-Based Solar Power: Realizing the Vision

Paper number

IAC-07-C3.1.01

Author

Mr. John C. Mankins, ARTEMIS Innovation Management Solutions, LLC, United States

Year

2007

Abstract

During the coming century, truly vast amounts of carbon-neutral energy will be needed to meet the concurrent challenges of increasing the global per capita quality of life, AND stabilizing greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere to some manageable level.  Given the technologies now in use to sustain the current world economy, these 1000's of terawatt-hours of new energy must come in the form of both electrical power and a variety of fuels.  Although this energy will come from various sources, Space Solar Power is one of the more important options for safe, affordable and abundant energy on this scale. 

However, any shift from one suite of large-scale, infrastructure-intensive technologies to another can take decades to realize.  Examples have included the transitions from water-borne transport to rail-carried transport of freight, from wood to coal, and others.  All of these major technological transitions have required "local" economic feasibility to be realized, including both locally in time and space (payback within a few years to a decade, with revenues drawn within some relatively predictable economic setting).   In other words, the decision to make the transition must somehow be rational--it must make sense for individual decision makers.  Almost certainly, the same must be true for Space Solar Power. The key to "locally rational" decisions that lead to space solar power is three fold.  First, the technologies to be developed must have applications that are nearer term and multi-faceted.  Second, interim systems must be possible that provide value to decision-makers/investors within both government and industry. And, finally Space Solar Power pilot plants must be possible that are affordable, have value and retire risks--while providing legitimate energy services.

This paper will explore these questions, focusing on the potential pathways by which affordable and abundant Space Solar Power may be realizable.

Abstract document

IAC-07-C3.1.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-C3.1.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.