PRESESNTATION ON

SPACE-BASED SOLAR POWER

AJAY LASIYALROLL :1113331015

BATCH: 2011-2014

NOIDA INST ITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

OVERVIEW

• Introduction• History• Design• Advantage • Disadvantage• Conclusion

INTRODUCTION• SBSP is the concept of collecting solar

power in space for use on earth.

Using an “Solar Power Satellite” or a “Satellite Power System”

CONTD…• Part of Solar Energy is lost on its way

through the atmosphere.• SBSP convert sunlight to microwaves

outside the atmosphere ,avoiding the losses, and the downtime due to the Earth’s rotation.

HISTORY• The SBSP concept, originally known as

satellite solar power system (SSPS), was first described in November 1968.• Between 1978 and 1981, the Congress

authorized the Department of Energy (DoE) and NASA to jointly investigate the concept.• 1n 1997, NASA conducted its “Fresh Look”

study to examine the modern state of SBSP feasibility.

CONTD…• In 1999, NASA’s Space Solar Power Exploratory

Research and Technology program (SERT) was initiated

SERT sandwich concept .NASA

CONTD…

Shown is the assembly of a microwave transmission antenna

DESIGN• SBSP essentially consists of three

elements :

• A means of collecting solar power in space, for example via solar concentrators, solar cells or a heat engine• A means of transmitting power to earth,

for example via microwave or laser• A means of receiving power on earth, for

example via a microwave antenna (rectenna)

CONTD…• Two basic methods of conversion has been

studied:• Photovoltaic conversion uses

semiconductor cells to directly convert photons into electrical power.• Solar dynamics uses mirrors to

concentrate light on a boiler.

CONTD…• Most analysis of SBSP have focused on a

Photovoltaic conversion (commonly known as “solar cells”) • The use of Solar dynamic could reduce

mass per watt.

ADVANTAGE• The SBSP concept is attractive because

space has several major advantages over the Earth’s surface for the collection of solar power-

• There is no air in space, so the collecting surfaces could receive much more intense sunlight.• Consequently, collection in orbit is

approximately 144% of the maximum attainable on Earth’s surface.

CONTD…

• Orbiting satellites can be exposed to a consequently high degree of solar radiation, generally for 24 hours a day, whereas surface panels can collect for 12 hours per day at most.• A collecting satellite could possibly direct power

on demand to different surface locations based on geographical base load or peak load power needs.• Elimination of Plant and Wildlife interference.

DISADVANTAGE• The SBSP concept also has a number of

problems:• The large cost of launching a satellite into

space • Inaccessibility: Maintenance of an earth based

solar panel is relatively simple, but performing maintenance on a solar panel in space incurs the extra cost of transporting a team of astronauts into space.• Special debris is a major hazard to large object

in space.• The large size and corresponding cost of the

receiving station on the ground.

CONTD…

CONCLUSIONSBSP requires enormous expenditure and man power and the concerns about the radiation and doubts about the efficiency and feasibility make us think twice about the feasibility of the project implementation.But it can’t be ignored that SBSP offers energy from an unending source.All in all, the positive aspects of such a system appear to outweigh the negative ones.Given the incredible benefits, not to mention tremendous need, it’s a no-brainer that this needs to happen.

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