This workshop will examine the problem of
generating power for Earth from large solar collector satellites in
orbit, which would beam energy back to the earth by microwaves. Experts
will be invited from around the world to participate in the evaluation
of the technical and economic feasibility of space solar power.
Motivation
The need to develop alternative clean renewable energy supplies is
becoming critical.
- Problems of climate change and global warming due to
carbon emissions are becoming an accepted fact
- The dramatic rise in the cost of petro-chemical energy is
due to decreased supplies and increase in world demand
- There is increasing political instability of regions of
the world that have large oil supplies
- There are geo-political and economic ramifications of
being dependent on imported energy or on being economically dependent
on the export of energy from dwindling energy reserves
In the past, space solar power has been
considered as an alternative clean energy source. However, it has been
found to be economically and technically not feasible. This conclusion
needs to be reevaluated in a non-advocate environment considered in
view of the rising concerns about conventional power sources. MIT is
taking steps of finding solutions to this need. This workshop is
one step in this work.
Space Solar Power
Space solar power stations are envisioned as large solar power
collectors in geosynchronous earth orbit. Solar energy would be
gathered by photovoltaic cells and converted to microwaves so that it
can be beamed wirelessly to receivers on earth. Space solar power is
clean, inexhaustible, available 24 hours a day, and has the potential
to generate as much energy as terrestrial power plants.
Challenges
There are numerous technical, political, legal and economic challenges
to building space solar power stations. Limitations in photovoltaic
technology and the difficulty of building large structures in space are
some of the issues. In the past, launch costs have been prohibitive.
However, recent advances in technology coupled with the risings costs
of conventional energy sources suggest that it is time to reevaluate
space solar power.
Workshop Organization
The workshop objective is a preliminary non-advocate evaluation of the
potential of space solar power. Is it feasible or a fantasy?
The workshop will be a small gathering of
leading experts. The participants will meet as a whole and then break
into smaller groups, which will focus on the issues and challenges of a
particular thrust area related to space solar power. The workshop
output will be a brief report from the thrust areas and a road map for
future activities.
Thrust Areas
Each thrust area will have a lead (usually an academic).
Attendees will be encouraged to interact via e-mail before the meeting
and draft a set of thrust area challenges.
Area 1: Public Policy, Economics, Legal and
Environment
Area 2: Space Systems Technology for SSP
Area 3: Solar Energy Technology - Terrestrial vs SSP
Area 4: Integration Strategies
There is no registration fee for invited participants.
Sponsors
The MIT Space Solar Power Workshop is sponsored by:
The MIT Technology and Development Program (TDP)
In cooperation with:
MIT Program Committee
Prof.
Steven Dubowsky , Chair
Prof. Edward Crawley
Prof. Oliver de Weck
Prof.
Ahmed Ghoniem
Dr.
Geoffrey Landis
Prof.
David H. Marks
Prof.
David Miller
Prof. Fred
Moavenzadeh
Peggy Boning
Administrative
Associate
Kate Anderson
Webmasters
Steven Peters
Masahiro Ono
Contacts
To contact workshop organizers send e-mail to space_solar_power-mit (at) mit (dot) edu
MIT Space Solar Power Workshop
