Microwave Power Transmission as a Future Feasibilty of Solar Power Satellite

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2013 in the subject Energy Sciences, , language: English, abstract: The search for a new, safe and stable renewable energy source led to the idea of building a power station in space which transmits electricity to Earth. The concept of Solar Power Satellites (SPS) was invented by Glaser in 1968. SPS converts solar energy into microwaves and transmit it to a receivingantenna on Earth for conversion to electric power. The key technology needed to enable the future feasibility of SPS is Microwave Power Transmission. SPS would be a massive structure with an area of about 56 sq. and would, weigh about 30,000 to 50,000 metric ton. Estimated cost is about $74 billion and would take about 30 years for its construction. In order to reduce the projected cost of a SPS suggestions are made to employ extra terrestrialresources for its construction. This reduces the transportation requirements of such a massive structure. However the realization of SPS concept holds great promises for solving energy crisis.