Powering Earth From Space

"You get this incredible, scalable, continuous energy source."

In space, the sun is always shining. It's uninterrupted by weather, seasons or night. What if we could harness this around-the-clock abundance and beam it back to Earth?

As Sam Adlen explains, this is the concept behind space-based solar power – and it could play a significant role in the energy mix of our future.

Sam is Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Space Solar: an Oxfordshire-based company working to skyrocket renewables. By developing and commercialising space-based solar power, they aim to deliver clean, affordable energy on Earth.

The process involves putting large solar arrays in space, usually with the help of satellites. Electricity is converted into high frequency radio waves and then transmitted wirelessly down to our own planet. Why is the vantage point of space important? Close proximity to the sun delivers 13 times more incident energy than what solar panels can harvest on Earth.

This technology is being developed here and now, but its origins can be traced back to the realm of science fiction. The idea of space-based solar power first appeared in a 1941 short story by Isaac Asimov titled 'Reason'. In the time since, much has been done to bring this solution, and its immense benefits, into reality.

Space Solar's demonstrator HARRIER is just one example of their recent breakthroughs. It's the world's first 360 degree wireless power transmission system. While most designs use a large mechanical rotating joint to constantly point at both the sun and Earth during orbit, HARRIER's unique helix shape can be electronically steered. This allows for both flexibility and longevity.

The benefits are clear, but do they come at a price? Sam highlights that changes in launch costs mean space-based solar power is economically viable while also providing baseload energy.

Finance is needed to create new infrastructure, but for investors and consumers alike, the return could be astronomical.

To learn more about Space Solar, visit their website.

Space Solar are a member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Space Sustainability Task Force.