Sps supplement Rough Draft-endi2011 Alpharetta 2011 / Boyce, Doshi, Hermansen, Ma, Pirani

SPS Solves – Long-Term

Let me start with some important definitions. A baseload power plant is one that provides a steady flow of power regardless of total power demand by the grid. Baseload power plants are usually fueled with coal or nuclear fission. Peaking power plants are power plants that generally run only when there is a high demand for electricity. Peaking power plants are usually natural gas, oil or hydroelectric powered. Comparing space-based solar power to fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas, etc.), both provide baseload power but the burning of fossil fuels create harmful emissions which may be contributing to global warming. Space-based solar power creates emissions only upon construction of the equipment and launching it into orbit. Fossil fuels will eventually run out and the demand is increasing with population growth and increases in per capita energy consumption around the world. Space-based solar power will run out when the sun burns out … and when that happens, we’ll have bigger fish to fry! Comparing space-based solar power to nuclear power, both provide baseload power but current nuclear fission creates radioactive waste, of which we have already already accumulated thousands of tons which must be safely tracked and stored long into the future, perhaps as long as 10,000 years. Space-based solar power radiates heat generated during the conversion of light to electricity back into deep space. Comparing space-based solar power to wind power, both are clean sources of energy but wind power is intermittent, so it can’t reliably provide baseload power. Wind power is well suited to certain geographical areas whereas space-based solar power can be delivered anywhere on the Earth. Comparing space-based solar power to ground solar power, both are clean sources of energy but ground solar power is intermittent, so it can’t reliably provide baseload power. Ground solar power is well suited to certain geographical areas. Solar energy in space is eight times more intense than after passing through the atmosphere and again, space-based solar power can be delivered anywhere on the Earth. Comparing space-based solar power to biofuels, biofuels (such as corn or sugar ethanol) require tremendous amounts of agricultural production. So far, biofuels have less energy per unit than fossil fuels. Space-based solar power does not compete with food production.

If we were to make the decision as a nation to move ahead and dedicate ourselves to developing the solar power satellite as our next major energy source, what would be the benefits? Let us select the option to pay as we go for developing the space-oriented infrastructure. The commercial utility industry could pay for most of the development costs for the power generation part of the system (the satellite and rectenna) through their contribution to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Funds for the space infrastructure development could be raised by charging a surtax on imported oil, applying a small tax on energy systems that pollute the atmosphere, and applying some moneys from the military budget. The government sources of money would actually have a positive long-term benefit. The tax on imported oil would be an incentive to US producers, the tax on polluting systems would be an incentive to expand nonpolluting systems, and the diversion of military funds would help keep the aerospace industry strong and ready if needed in the future for expanded military applications.