Space Based Solar Panels Vs Earth Based Solar Panels

Space based solar power sbsp is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space and distributing it to earth potential advantages of collecting solar energy in space include a higher collection rate and a longer collection period due to the lack of a diffusing atmosphere and the possibility of placing a solar collector in an orbiting location where there is no night.

Space based solar panels vs earth based solar panels. Research on space based solar power has been ongoing at caltech where professors harry atwater ali hajimiri and sergio pellegrino have received funding from the northrop grumman corporation to. Solar panels on spacecraft supply power for two main uses. Space based solar power sbsp. For both uses a key figure of merit of the solar panels is the specific power watts generated divided by solar array mass which indicates on a relative basis how much.

They both include cells that are made of conductive material usually silicon and are fit into arrays. This receiver could either be on earth or on a high altitude platform aircraft other spacecraft or even on the surface of. Nasa in simple terms we would put some mechanism in outer space to capture the sun s energy almost continuously and transmit that energy to earth. In 1999 nasa initiated a 22 million study investigating the feasibility of space based solar power.

Power for spacecraft propulsion electric propulsion sometimes called solar electric propulsion. Overall there are many similarities between space based solar panels and conventional solar panels. Earth solar power versus space based solar power roof solar panels on buildings convert sunlight into energy during the daytime. The biggest difference has to do with the overall quality and durability of the modules.

Space based solar power satellites sps are large structures in space that convert solar energy captured as solar irradiation into a form of energy that is transmitted wirelessly wpt to any remote receiver station. You can t collect solar power at night. While on the surface of the earth society still struggles to adopt solar energy solutions many scientists maintain that giant space based solar farms could provide an environmentally friendly. It is hard to imagine accomplishing a factor of 100 reduction in launch costs.

Among their conclusions was that launch costs would need to come down to 100 200 per kg to make space based solar power economically competitive. Space based solar power is the concept of capturing solar energy in outer space and transferring it directly to earth or other nearby planets. Well at least not on earth. Power to run the sensors active heating cooling and telemetry.