Space-based Solar Power Systems Research Articles

Harnessing sunlight beyond earth: Sustainable vision of space-based solar power systems in smart grid

The quest for sustainable energy solutions has led humanity beyond Earth, venturing into space. Earth-based solar power (EBSP) systems face challenges due to the planet's rotation, atmospheric environments, and weather conditions that can obstruct sunlight. In contrast, space-based solar power (SBSP) systems enable the utilization of 99 % of solar energy 24 h a day. However, while SBSP has shown the potential to produce a more stable power supply and sustainability, it is still in the early stages of its evolution, requiring further research and development. Previous studies have predominantly focused on specific SBSP technologies, limiting the evaluation of its potential. To overcome major challenges for high initial costs, technological complexities, and environmental impacts, this study proposes original achievements such as a comprehensive review of SBSP and innovative approaches to mitigate environmental impacts. Therefore, this study aims to propose a “Sustainable Vision” for SBSP in future smart grids. To achieve this, the study comprehensively reviews current technologies and considerations in relation to SBSP applications across its life cycle (i.e., manufacturing, transportation, installation, operation & maintenance, and end-of-life management stages). Furthermore, this study analyzes SBSP from techno-economic and socio-environmental perspectives, ultimately discussing its feasibility and applicability for sustainability in smart grids. This study contributes to providing a comprehensive overview and outlook on the feasibility of SBSP (i.e., technical challenges, economic potential, and socio-political insights). The interdisciplinary approach adopted in this study will help to enhance the holistic understanding of SBSP for sustainability, thereby fostering collaboration and decision-making among experts from various fields.

Microwave wireless power transfer efficiency analysis framework for a thin film space solar power satellite

Space-based solar power systems (SSPS) envision the usage of focused microwave beams to transfer power from space to ground. To supply a large amount of power and to be able to focus a microwave beam efficiently, a large infrastructure must be assembled in orbit, thus, making the implementation of SSPS an arduous task. In the history of SSPS designs, aside from economical obstacles, technical obstacles such as large ohmic losses due to long DC lines in the structure, large rotary joints to decouple beam pointing and solar power collection, heating problems from power lines converging into a single point, and complex control mechanisms, manufacture, and assembly are present. A simpler implementation using multiple foldable thin film membrane satellite modules is proposed as a feasible design, born from the advancement of thin film electronics. Its economical feasibility is achieved through the reduced weight, large surface area, and membrane’s ability to be stowed. The thin film SSPS combines advantageous properties of past designs such as a simple structure, simple control mechanism, and a distributed power collection and transfer architecture avoiding the ohmic loss and heating problems. However, due to the thin film membrane hosting both the antenna and the solar cells, competition occurs between maximum solar power collection and high efficiency power transfer capabilities. In this paper, we propose a framework to analyze the performance of the thin film SSPS solar cell-antenna integration design in terms of the wireless power transfer efficiency and fuel consumption, from which we identified the trade-offs on designing and operating the station. We used this framework to analyze three different antenna element designs in combination with three different attitude control goals, and found out that the key aspects of the antenna design are beam width, radiation efficiency, and efficient solar cell integration.

Effect of crease curvature on the bistability of the origami waterbomb base

Largely due to its geometry-endowed bistability, the origami waterbomb base offers wide-ranging engineering potential. Here, we explore how nonzero crease curvature, which leads to panel bending, enhances the tunability of this structure. To reveal the influence of crease curvature on the deployed geometry and the mechanical response of the octagonal curved-crease waterbomb base, we combine physical experiments with a parametric numerical study. The crease curvature ranges from zero (i.e. the well-known straight-crease waterbomb base) to the maximum curvature possible within the allotted boundary. In addition, we perform finite element analysis (FEA), which incorporates crease plasticity and also allows us to examine the effects of crease stiffness and sheet thickness on mechanical behavior. Our results show that increasing crease curvature reduces the folded height and vertex range-of-motion, but raises the critical load for snap-through instability, without necessarily increasing the switching energy. Potential applications for these tunable structures range from energy harvesting mechanical metamaterials to architectural-scale adaptive shading devices, and deployable space-based solar power systems.

Sustainable Energy Development Using Space-Based Solar Power in Indian context

Background: Progressive degradation of the environment due to the intervention of humans in the natural processes brought into light the need and the concept of sustainable development. The three pillars of sustainable development are Economic, Social, and Environmental. Sustainability has become one of the important tools to overcome the threats and is the dire need of the hour. This paper illustrates the detailed concept of Space-based solar power (SBSP) which defines the collection of solar energy in outer space and directing it towards the earth using electromagnetic waves. The edge of collecting solar power from space and not by the conventional methods include the strong collection rate and improved collection period. This is mainly because of the absence of the earth’s atmosphere that consists of a lot of external impurities and the decreased effects of reflection and absorption on solar energy on its way to earth. Objective: To put forward the importance of the use of space-based solar power system in India and to establish how space-based solar power is one of the answers of sustainable energy development for a better future for the country. Method: The study is based on secondary data. The findings indicate the need for sustainable energy development and the effective use of space-based solar power which would answer to the never-ending demands of human beings. Result: The article also delineates the opportunities of space-based solar power as well as the challenges that might be faced while building the system. Conclusion: The paper is a descriptive and conceptual study which illustrates SBSP as an innovative and important breakthrough in the field of science and one of the most important topics of discussion that needs to be addressed. The paper suggests the need for conducting more study on the topic and development of projects to measure its feasibility in the future, in terms of Indian context.

Utilities in the sky?: Comparison of space-based and terrestrial solar power systems

Could huge arrays of space-based solar power systems one day supply utility scale electricity to the electric power grid on earth? How realistic a possibility is this option for alternative energy supply at the moment? Finley R. Shapiro, USA compares space-based and terrestrial solar power systems.

Optimization of solar power plants with rotating electric generators

It is shown how such electric power plants can be optimized for space applications, including space-based solar power systems generating electric energy for Earth usage. Reradiation from the energy collector and optical properties of the collector are of significant influence. Main conclusions are: • -simple (i.e optically inferior), but light-weight concentrators should not be ruled out, • -optimum temperatures are not extremely high, • -the ratio of power plant mass to electric power is comparable to corresponding data for such systems deriving primary power from nuclear reactors. This paper consists of two parts: 1. Firstly (H. O. Ruppe), somewhat extreme and idealized design examples are presented and the method is developed. Only the Rankine (really, derated Carnot) cycle is considered. All of this information is based strongly on pp. 225–241 of Ruppe, Introduction to Astronautica, Vol. 2. Academic Press, New York (1967). 2. Secondly (J. Blumenberg), more refined information is included. This is largely taken from Blumenberg, Acta Astronautica 8, 839–854 (1981), and additional data which were developed for this publication.