Re:Space Based Solar Power - Alternative Energy Solution
« Reply #2 on: 2008-07-28 11:12:41 »
As Walter says, this is not only "Worth promoting," it is "essential".
I've been advocating Space Solar as a viable energy solution for humans since the 1970s for the simple reason that is reasonably clear that only nuclear fusion will serve our long term energy needs. Since the 1990s it has been clear that we would likely not achieve fusion power for ourselves before the end of cheap fossil fuel. This logically means that we need to turn to Solar fusion for our long term energy or modern civilization, for what it is worth, will end with the probable death of more than 2/3 of the humans currently on the planet, as we run out of cheap fossil fuel.
This film is a good start. It does unfortunately contain a major factual inaccuracy. Space Solar insolation is not double that of earth (200W/m2 in Arizona) but 6 times that at 1200W/m2. The film also contains a statement which does not convey the extreme urgency of these projects. 45 years of "cheap" fossil fuels is beyond optimistic, it is almost certain that by 2030 we will no longer have sufficient affordable fossil fuels available to continue this project. This suggests that we may no longer be capable of achieving Space Solar within the needed time frame in which relatively cheap fossil fuel derived energy is available - which may mean that we cannot achieve it at all. But we should still attempt it with all the resources available to us because it is our only long term hope.
A consequence of the delay in starting is that we simply no longer have the resources and energy to build conventional solar collectors in sufficient number to make a meaningful contribution to our long term energy needs. The upside to this is that we could do much better than existing technology and provide nearly free power to everyone on earth by using a Hydrogen MHD collector thermally pumped by sunlight reflected from a large mirror. Three 90km radius mirrors could power the entire planet. This project should be pursued at the same time as serious space access technology is developed.
To achieve and maintain space solar we have to build at least one and more likely multiple systems able to deliver massive amounts of material to space at an affordable price. The only technology capable of doing this is the space elevator. This too is within our reach, but barely.
We need to focus on the rapid achievement of:
Cost effective assured access to space through Space Elevators Large scale magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) generators Efficient energy downloads to earth via Microwave and possibly Laser Distribution systems capable of delivering the generated power from space to earth and from the receivers to the users Approaches to minimize our energy use until this power becomes available New financial models allowing us to afford all of the above
If we miss these goals, mankind will become irrelevant to the Universe within the lifetimes of some of those currently alive. If we throw all our resources at the problem beginning now and fail, it will be at least partly because the Bush Administration and Congress took us down the wrong path for 8 precious years. If we do not begin now, if we do not devote significant resources to enabling this solution now, then mankind will not achieve space solar ever, and it will be because of our failure of vision.
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. - Steven Weinberg, 1999
Author
Logged
