Sun-Powered Satellites - Solar Energy Used in Satellite Technology

Solar power has been established as the world's most commonly used alternative, renewable energy source. Although wind power is also growing in popularity, it has yet to gain the respect that solar power has. Like wind power, solar power does have its limitations; however, because of the relatively limitless supply of the sun's heat and light, solar power can be used almost across the board in regards to location, as opposed to the rather bulky construction of a wind tower.

One way in which solar power is rapidly gaining popularity is in the idea of combining the sun's energy with satellite technology to transfer energy from outer space to earth. According to the concept, satellites that are floating in space, called, "powersats" would absorb solar power from the sun and then transmit it to the earth in a laser beam or via a microwave-like beam. That energy would then be transfer to various power grids and sent directly into the homes of consumers.

The idea of using space technology to capture solar power is not a new one; it was first presented as a viable energy method in the 1960s. Although the idea has been reviewed by a number of government, scientific and space organizations, the idea has never been viewed as having any definite economic benefits for consumers or for relieving the strain on the earth's natural resources already being used. Part of the criticism centers on the enormous cost of constructing, launching and maintaining equipment powerful enough to harness the amount of energy sent by the sun to a satellite that is much closer in proximity to it than earth.

After the idea was reviewed by NASA in the late 1990s, it was determined that the U.S. space program had matured enough to cover certain variables, such as certain potential environmental hazards, international issues and social concerns; however, the cost of launching such technologies still remains an issue. Because of the potential to eliminate or address many of the previous concerns, the solar space satellite is back on the table and various agencies are working to find ways to reduce the costs related to it in order to possibly use solar powered space technology in the future.

Two of the biggest reasons solar power space technology is being seriously considered revolve around the rapid depletion of the earth's natural energy supply and because of the projected population boom that could potentially overwhelm natural resources within as short a span of time as fifty years.

Space Solar Power (SSP) would use almost the same technology as is used in solar powered energy generation on Earth. The process involves the use of photovoltaic cells to capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity. According to projections, satellites placed in the space around earth could receive as much as eight times the amount of energy from the sun as similar devices placed on the earth's surface. With the development of new technologies, the efficiency of the photovoltaic technology to convert the solar power into electricity has been increased by as much as six hundred percent.

Sources:

http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/solar-power-satellite.php

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/solar_power_sats_011017-1.html