{"id":3606,"date":"2021-08-25T09:58:31","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T13:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saifurrahman.org\/?p=3606"},"modified":"2021-11-01T15:57:23","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T19:57:23","slug":"what-are-some-challenges-in-space-based-solar-power-system-and-how-to-resolve-those","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.srahman.org\/?p=3606","title":{"rendered":"What are some challenges in space-based solar power system and how to resolve those?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The concept of space-based power system is attractive because there is no shading in space due to clouds and no part of the sunlight is lost in absorption in earth\u2019s atmosphere or reflected by the atmosphere. And the solar panel can be placed in an orbiting location where there is no night. Thus, no incidence solar radiation is lost like what happens to terrestrial solar panels. But there a few technical challenges.<\/p>

1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Initial Cost:
<\/strong>The size of the solar panel needed to produce any significant amount of electricity in space is very large. As an example, to produce 350 megawatts (MW) of electricity in space, it will be necessary to use one million sq meters of solar panels. (350 MW is the size of a mid-sized gas turbine). That means that a huge number of solar panels will have to be carried to the orbit in the outer atmosphere.\u00a0 This is a significant technical challenge requiring a huge financial commitment.<\/p>

2.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Space Constraints:
<\/strong>This electricity will have to be converted to microwaves for transmission to earth. Huge antennae need to be built on earth to collect this microwave and then convert it back to electricity. The size of the antennae will depend on the intensity of microwave beams to be transmitted to earth. The higher the intensity, the lower is the antennae size. But there is a limit to the intensity microwave signal which can be tolerated by animals and objects exposed to the microwave beam.\u00a0 So there is an issue about the size and location for these antennae.<\/p>

3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Cost & Losses:<\/strong>
Number three, the overall losses will be 10% or more in conversion and reconversion from electricity to microwave and back to electricity.\u00a0 To survive in space, the solar panels and associated electronics need to be hardened against radiation which drives the cost by several times when compared to the earthbound equipment.<\/p>

4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Storage Challenges:<\/strong>
Charging batteries with solar power has made it possible for solar energy to be used during the night. Still the cost of storage batteries and their maintenance continue to be major challenges of solar power. \u00a0
So, while the idea of space-based solar power system is novel, the technical issues and cost of deployment will be prohibitive based on today\u2019s technology. There are a plenty of unused space on earth which can be used now to produce electricity. And if these solar panels are distributed around the world with strong electrical interconnections, the impact of weather variations and day-night variability can be minimized.<\/p>

If you would like to read about other Publications that are already present at my\u00a0website,\u00a0you can visit\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>

Prof. Saifur Rahman, PhD
Virginia Tech<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The concept of space-based power system is attractive because there is no shading in space due to clouds and no part of the sunlight is lost in absorption in earth\u2019s atmosphere or reflected by the atmosphere. And the solar panel can be placed in an orbiting location where there is no night. Thus, no incidence 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