A groundbreaking study proposes that solar panels in space could supply up to 80% of Europe's renewable energy需求 by 2050, potentially revolutionizing the continent’s energy landscape.Researchers from King's College London and NASA modeled scenarios showing space-based solar power (SBSP) systems could slash reliance on terrestrial renewables while reducing overall system costs by up to 15%.
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theguardian.comThe analysis, published in Joule, also suggests battery storage requirements could drop by more than two-thirds, addressing a key challenge of intermittent land-based solar and wind energy.
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kcl.ac.ukThe study evaluates two NASA-designed SBSP concepts.The heliostat swarm design uses thousands of mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a central receiver, capable of delivering near-constant power with 99.7% annual availability.This system could displace massive amounts of wind and solar generation while significantly cutting battery needs.
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zmescience.comA simpler planar array design, resembling a giant orbiting panel, would capture sunlight about 60% of the time but is closer to current technological feasibility.
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cosmosmagazine.comBoth designs outperform Earth-based solar panels, which have an efficiency range of 15-30%, by leveraging higher solar radiation in space.
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cosmosmagazine.comThe research team integrated SBSP into a detailed computer model of Europe’s future power grid, spanning 33 countries.Simulations show the technology could replace up to 80% of land-based renewable energy, providing stable baseload power unaffected by weather or seasonal variations."In space, you potentially have the ability to position solar panels to always face the sun," explained Dr Wei He, lead author of the study."This means nearly continuous power generation compared to Earth’s daily patterns".
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theguardian.comDespite its promise, the technology faces significant hurdles.Current costs for building and launching SBSP systems are 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than break-even points projected by 2050.The heliostat design would need to fall to about 14 times the cost of terrestrial solar panels, while the planar array would require a reduction to 9 times that cost.
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cosmosmagazine.comResearchers also warn of risks like orbital debris collisions and transmission interruptions, which could impact reliability and operational performance.
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theguardian.comEurope’s unique position in global energy cooperation may give it an edge in developing SBSP.The continent already operates one of the most integrated electricity grids globally and has decades of experience with multinational space projects through the European Space Agency."Now is the time" to begin testing and policy discussions, He emphasized, noting that joint ventures could create a continent-scale solution for stable renewable energy supply.
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zmescience.comWhile Japan has already incorporated SBSP into its national strategy, Europe risks falling behind if it hesitates.The study’s authors argue that combining both heliostat and planar designs in a coordinated development approach could accelerate progress."By first focusing on the more mature planar design, we can demonstrate and refine technologies while advancing research for continuous power generation," He said.
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cosmosmagazine.comAs reusable rockets lower launch costs and orbital robotics advance, the economic viability of space-based solar is becoming increasingly tangible, positioning it as a critical tool in Europe’s net-zero transition.
