While SPSB is based on existing technological principles and known physics, making it economically viable remains a challenge — one which the study does not tackle.Solar power is the fastest-growing renewable energy technology in the world. Between 2024 and 2030, solar capacity added is expected to account for 80% of the growth in renewable power globally, the International Energy Agency’s ‘Renewables 2024’ report stated.But this power source has several limitations. It can only operate in the day, is sensitive to the vagaries of weather, and requires a lot more space per unit of electricity produced than most other technologies.A silver bullet to solve these problems: space-based solar power (SBSP). This is not a novel idea. But recent technological advances have given it new wings. A latest study by researchers from King’s College, London has estimated that SBSP could supply up to 80% of Europe’s renewable energy needs by 2050.Promise of SBSPThe study, published in the journal Joule last week, says satellites in geostationary orbit could harvest continuous sunlight and beam it to Earth as microwaves, “delivering dispatchable, zero-carbon power that sidesteps the intermittency plaguing wind and solar” on the ground.To make its assessment, researchers carried out multiple simulations of two concepts developed by NASA. One, “a nearly continuous heliostat swarm design and an intermittent planar array design”, yielded positive results. This design uses mirror-like reflectors to collect sunlight in orbit, transmit this energy to stations on Earth, which then convert it to electricity.Such a design effectively addresses all major problems with solar power on Earth. “In space, you potentially have the ability to position solar panels to always face the sun, which means power generation can be nearly continuous compared to the daily pattern on Earth,” engineer Wei He, one of the authors of the study, said in a statement.“And, because it’s in space, the solar radiation is higher than on the Earth’s surface.”Reasons for scepticismStory continues below this adWhile SPSB is based on existing technological principles and known physics, making it economically viable remains a challenge — one which the study does not tackle.The main issue is that such a system would require setting up very large structures on Earth and in space. “A single solar power satellite at geostationary orbit might extend more than a kilometre across, with the receiver station on the ground needing a footprint more than ten times larger,” the European Space Agency’s website says.A enormous number of launches — possibly running into the hundreds — would be required to set up a single solar satellite which could produce the equivalent of a conventional nuclear power station, according to ESA’s website. For context, the much smaller International Space Station was built with more than 40 assembly flights.Despite progressively declining launch costs, the sheer scale of space infrastructure required is an impediment to SPSB being viable. According to a report in The Guardian, it is unlikely that the “potential cost-effectiveness of SBSP [could] be realised until 2050 because building, launching and maintaining it would be too expensive unless technological growth reduces its costs”.Story continues below this adThe researcher’s modelling also does not take into account space-specific challenges such as “orbital congestion, transmission interruptions or beaming variability, which could influence SBSP reliability and operational performance,” The Guardian report said.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Express Explainedsolar power