Value chain · CLM-1445
In plain terms
The 2021 study for the UK government reports that supporters of space solar power say it has become workable and affordable in the last ten years, after long being seen as attractive but too expensive. The study lists five reasons for the renewed interest: the push to Net Zero, launch costs that have fallen sharply and are expected to keep falling, modular designs built for mass production, maturing solar cells, wireless power and space robots, and other countries' strategic interest. It gives no figures for these on that page.
The claim as recorded
Frazer-Nash's 2021 executive summary, under "Why is it becoming feasible now?", attributes the change to proponents: "Long seen as an attractive but unaffordable source of clean energy, the proponents of Space Based Solar Power suggest that over the last decade it has become both technically feasible and economically viable." It then gives, in its own voice, "several reasons behind this renewed global interest": Net Zero; commercial space launch, "The cost of space launch has fallen dramatically in recent years and this trend is set to continue"; modular satellite designs such as SPS Alpha and CASSIOPeiA, "designed for high volume commercial manufacture" and "thus far more affordable than previous concepts"; technologies maturing, "The underpinning technologies of high concentration solar photovoltaic panels, wireless power transmission and space robotics are rapidly maturing"; and strategic self-interest, where other nations "may see strategic advantage and global influence". Under "Why should we pursue this now?" the study's roadmap "concludes that it is feasible to realise a constellation of solar power satellites delivering a substantial percentage of the UK's energy needs by the early 2040s".
Evidence behind this: T4, the executive summary of a consultancy study commissioned by the UK government (BEIS). The headline view is attributed on the page to proponents; the list of reasons is the study's own, with no figures or sources on the page.
Scope and limits
The page keeps two voices apart: that space solar has become feasible and viable is what "proponents ... suggest"; the five reasons are the study's own account of why interest has renewed, not evidence that it has become feasible. The page gives no launch prices, dates, sources or measures of maturity, and does not quantify "far more affordable" or the earlier unaffordability. The early-2040s date is the study's own roadmap conclusion, for a commissioned study.
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
PDF p.22 / printed 22, text layer. Section 3.3, first paragraph as quoted. "There are several reasons behind this renewed global interest in Space Based Solar Power:" followed by five bullets headed "Net Zero", "Commercial space launch", "Modular satellite designs", "Technologies maturing" and "Strategic self-interest"; the modular bullet reads "New highly modular solid state solar power satellite designs such as SPS Alpha and CASSIOPeiA have been conceived which are designed for high volume commercial manufacture, and are thus far more affordable than previous concepts"; the strategic bullet reads "Other nations may see strategic advantage and global influence in being able to develop a source of abundant affordable energy which could potentially be beamed anywhere in the world." Section 3.4: "Our development roadmap identifies a number of demonstration steps, and concludes that it is feasible to realise a constellation of solar power satellites delivering a substantial percentage of the UK's energy needs by the early 2040s."
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1445
CLM-1445, Energy Aperture, as of 2021-09.
Connected records
Other published records linked to this one. A list, not a judgement.
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