UK firm beams solar breakthrough: 13x more power sent from space down to Earth
UK-based startup Space Solar has successfully completed crucial tests of its power-beaming technology, with an aim to deliver wireless power from space.
The company said that space-based solar power could provide reliable, uninterrupted clean energy around the clock and in any weather, addressing the intermittency issues faced by traditional wind and solar sources.
'A solar panel in space delivers 13x the amount of energy that the same panel on Earth generates, because there is no night, no weather and no atmosphere in space.'
The company has recently concluded its 18-month, $2.26-million "Cassidi" project, which was funded by the UK Space Agency and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
The Cassidi project involved a comprehensive assessment of Space Solar's key technologies.
'In a remarkably short timeframe, the project has advanced key aspects of the design, including the wireless power beaming, in-space assembly process and the ground receiver,' added the press release.
The project has resulted in a comprehensive 1,700-page sub-system design document outlining the blueprint for its modular solar power satellite, named Cassiopeia (Constant Aperture Solid State Integrated Orbital Phased Array).
Space Solar's "Harrier" demonstrator successfully developed and tested their power beaming technology, which was a key achievement of the project.
This system has the ability to steer the energy beam through a full 360 degrees electronically, eliminating the need for moving parts. This solid-state approach is central to the projected cost-effectiveness of the Cassiopeia satellite.
'The power beam is low intensity and safe, and transmits through the atmosphere and weather with almost zero loss in efficiency,' highlighted the press release.
'It works exceptionally well in combination with other renewables, with the potential to contribute to grid resilience by delivering power where it's needed most, cost competitive with terrestrial renewables.'
Space Solar's ambitious concept involves launching the Cassiopeia satellite, equipped with pre-fabricated solar reflectors and thousands of lightweight photovoltaic modules, into orbit.
This orbiting power plant will then capture solar energy and wirelessly beam it down to ground-based receivers using high-frequency radio waves.
The company claims this method will provide a consistent and reliable energy source, unaffected by weather conditions or the day-night cycle.
The Cassidi project was a collaborative effort, involving 22 partner organizations, and has reportedly confirmed both the technical and economic viability of Space Solar's system.
This successful demonstration paves the way for the company's ambitious timeline.
'Space Solar is now accelerating towards deployment, with plans to deliver a megawatt-scale commercial system within five years and expand to a full product range from 30 MW to GigaWatt-scale within twelve years,' remarked the company.
This breakthrough could offer a promising pathway towards a future with clean, continuous, and globally accessible energy.
The successful completion of the Cassidi project signifies a tangible step closer to making wireless power from space a reality.
'The breakthrough project heralds a paradigm shift in clean energy generation, and gives further confidence that space-based solar power (SBSP) can be deployed on a commercial scale from 2030,' concluded Space Solar.
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