25-05-2012, 12:49 PM
Solar Power Satellites
[attachment=22985]
CURRENT STATUS
Too little is currently known about the technical,
economic, and environmental aspects of SPS
to make a sound decision whether to proceed
with its development and deployment. I n addition,
without further research an SPS demonstration
or systems-engineering verification
program would be a high-risk venture. An SPS
research program could ultimately assure an adequate
information base for these decisions. However,
the urgency of any proposed research effort
depends strongly on the perception of future
electricity demand, the variety and cost of
supply, and the estimated speed with which
the major technical and environmental uncertainties
associated with the SPS concept can
be resolved. For instance, if future demand
growth is expected to be low it may not be necessary
to initiate a specific SPS research program
at this time, especially if more conventional
electric-generating technologies remain
acceptable. If this is not the case or if demand
growth is expected to be high, SPS might be
needed early in the 21st century, and a timely
start of a research effort would be justified.
ENERGY CONTEXT
Even if it were needed and work began now,
a commercial SPS is unlikely to be available
before 2005-15 because of the many uncertainties
and the long Ieadtime needed for testing and
demonstration. Therefore, SPS could not be expected
to constitute a significant part of electricity
supply before 2015-25. By that time, the
United States will be importing very little
foreign oil. Consequently, SPS cannot reduce our
dependence on imported oil in this century.
However, if efficient electric vehicles or other
electric end-use technologies are developed by
about 2010, electricity from SPS or other
sources could substitute for synthetic liquid
fuels generated from coal or biomass.
Along with other electric generating technologies,
SPS has the potential to supply several
hundred gigawatts of baseload electrical
power to the U.S. grid by the mid-21st century.
However, the ultimate need for SPS and its
rate of development wiII depend on the rate of
increase in demand for electricity, and the
ability of other energy supply options to meet
ultimate demand more competitively. SPS
would be needed most if coal and/or conventional
nuclear options are constrained and if demand
for electricity is high.
INTERNATIONAL AND MILITARY IMPLICATIONS
There could be important economic and political
advantages to developing SPS as a multinational
rather than a unilateral system. These include
cooperation in establishing legal and
regulatory norms, shared risk in financing the
R&D and construction costs, improved prospects
for global marketing, and forestalling
fears of economic domination and military
use. Although a multinational effort would
face inevitable organizational and political
difficulties, the strong potential interest of
energy-poor, non-U. S. participants in increased
electrical supplies could help make a multinational
venture more feasible than a unilateral
one by the United States. GIobal electricity demand
may quadruple by 2030, and will be especially
strong in developing countries. Western
Europe and Japan wouId be likely partners
for a joint project. Depending on the size and
expense of the system used, a number of the
more rapidly developing but less developed
countries might also be interested in participating
at lower levels of involvement.
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
Many of the environmental impacts associated
with SPS are comparable in nature and magnitude
to those resulting from other large-scale terrestrial
energy technologies. A possible exception
is coal, particularly if CO2 concerns are proven
justified. While these effects have not been
quantified adequately, it is thought that conventional
corrective measures could be prescribed
to minimize their impacts. However,
several health and environmental effects, which
are unique to SPS and whose severity and likelihood
are highly uncertain, have also been identified.
These include effects on the upper atmosphere
from launch effluents and power
transmission, health hazards associated with
non ionizing radiation, electromagnetic interference
with other systems and astronomy, and
radiation exposure for space workers. More research
in these areas would be required before
decisions about the deployment or development
of SPS could be made. Little information
is currently available on the environmental
impacts of SPS designs other than the
reference system. Clearly, environmental
assessments of the alternative systems will be
needed if choices are to be made between SPS
designs.
[attachment=22985]
CURRENT STATUS
Too little is currently known about the technical,
economic, and environmental aspects of SPS
to make a sound decision whether to proceed
with its development and deployment. I n addition,
without further research an SPS demonstration
or systems-engineering verification
program would be a high-risk venture. An SPS
research program could ultimately assure an adequate
information base for these decisions. However,
the urgency of any proposed research effort
depends strongly on the perception of future
electricity demand, the variety and cost of
supply, and the estimated speed with which
the major technical and environmental uncertainties
associated with the SPS concept can
be resolved. For instance, if future demand
growth is expected to be low it may not be necessary
to initiate a specific SPS research program
at this time, especially if more conventional
electric-generating technologies remain
acceptable. If this is not the case or if demand
growth is expected to be high, SPS might be
needed early in the 21st century, and a timely
start of a research effort would be justified.
ENERGY CONTEXT
Even if it were needed and work began now,
a commercial SPS is unlikely to be available
before 2005-15 because of the many uncertainties
and the long Ieadtime needed for testing and
demonstration. Therefore, SPS could not be expected
to constitute a significant part of electricity
supply before 2015-25. By that time, the
United States will be importing very little
foreign oil. Consequently, SPS cannot reduce our
dependence on imported oil in this century.
However, if efficient electric vehicles or other
electric end-use technologies are developed by
about 2010, electricity from SPS or other
sources could substitute for synthetic liquid
fuels generated from coal or biomass.
Along with other electric generating technologies,
SPS has the potential to supply several
hundred gigawatts of baseload electrical
power to the U.S. grid by the mid-21st century.
However, the ultimate need for SPS and its
rate of development wiII depend on the rate of
increase in demand for electricity, and the
ability of other energy supply options to meet
ultimate demand more competitively. SPS
would be needed most if coal and/or conventional
nuclear options are constrained and if demand
for electricity is high.
INTERNATIONAL AND MILITARY IMPLICATIONS
There could be important economic and political
advantages to developing SPS as a multinational
rather than a unilateral system. These include
cooperation in establishing legal and
regulatory norms, shared risk in financing the
R&D and construction costs, improved prospects
for global marketing, and forestalling
fears of economic domination and military
use. Although a multinational effort would
face inevitable organizational and political
difficulties, the strong potential interest of
energy-poor, non-U. S. participants in increased
electrical supplies could help make a multinational
venture more feasible than a unilateral
one by the United States. GIobal electricity demand
may quadruple by 2030, and will be especially
strong in developing countries. Western
Europe and Japan wouId be likely partners
for a joint project. Depending on the size and
expense of the system used, a number of the
more rapidly developing but less developed
countries might also be interested in participating
at lower levels of involvement.
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
Many of the environmental impacts associated
with SPS are comparable in nature and magnitude
to those resulting from other large-scale terrestrial
energy technologies. A possible exception
is coal, particularly if CO2 concerns are proven
justified. While these effects have not been
quantified adequately, it is thought that conventional
corrective measures could be prescribed
to minimize their impacts. However,
several health and environmental effects, which
are unique to SPS and whose severity and likelihood
are highly uncertain, have also been identified.
These include effects on the upper atmosphere
from launch effluents and power
transmission, health hazards associated with
non ionizing radiation, electromagnetic interference
with other systems and astronomy, and
radiation exposure for space workers. More research
in these areas would be required before
decisions about the deployment or development
of SPS could be made. Little information
is currently available on the environmental
impacts of SPS designs other than the
reference system. Clearly, environmental
assessments of the alternative systems will be
needed if choices are to be made between SPS
designs.