SPS-ALPHA
A Hyper-modular Approach to the Technology of Space
Solar Power
14-15 December
IEEE Workshop at UCF (Orlando, Florida)
What is Driving Demand for New Energy Sources?
POPULATION
& ECONOMIC
GROWTH
DR. HUBBERT
AND
FOSSIL FUELS
… and in SPACE
CLIMATE
CHANGE
CONCERNS
On EARTH…
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EXISTING
MARKETS
SPS-ALPHA / Technology Overview
AMBITIOUS
FUTURE
GOALS &
INDUSTRIES
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Population and Economic Growth
The Situation Today (December 14, 2015)
• World Population (Today)
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~ 7,400,000,000 individuals
Energy Consumption (all sources)
~ 120,000,000,000,000 kW-hrs / year
Energy “per capita”
~ 17,000 kW-hrs / year / person
With Great Inequality
2-3 billion use almost no energy…
In the USA Energy Used per capita
~ 80,000-90,000 kW-hrs /year
Equivalent “Power” Demand: ~ 15 TW c. 2010
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Population and Economic Growth
The Potential Market by 2100
• World Population (2100)
~ 11,000,000,000 (estimated)
Energy … It Depends
• Option A (Status Quo, many billions stay poor)
~ 180,000,000,000,000 kW-hrs / year
• Option B (Some billions stay poor)
~ 480,000,000,000,000 kW-hrs / year
per capita ~ 44,000 kW-hrs / year (~ 50% of USA)
• Option C (All Become Equally Successful)
~ 1,000,000,000,000,000 kW-hrs / year
Equivalent “Power” Demand: ~ 50-100 TW c. 2100
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The Vision of Space Solar Power
!
!
!
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pg. 5
Space Solar Power Overview
The “Technology” of Space Solar Power: Some History
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How is it Done Today?
Current Space Systems Architectures
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pg. 7
The “First Era” of SSP
1979 SPS Reference Concept in GEO
The Era of the 1970s
Large, Monolithic Platforms
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pg. 8
1979 SPS Reference Concept in GEO
DOE-NASA SPS Roadmap – c. 1980
Total Cost:
~ $1 Trillion (‘15,$)
to the First kW-hr
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pg. 9
Space Solar Power Overview
The “Technology” of Space Solar Power:
What are the Different Options Available - Examples
1: SPS with Microwave WPT (like the 1979 SPS Ref.)
2: SPS with µwave WPT and Reflector-Based Interconnects (like the “Abacus
Reflector”)
3: SPS w/ µwave WPT (like SunTower)
4: SPS w/ modular µwave WPT; (like the Sandwich SPS concept of Prof. Kaya)
5: SPS w/ µwave WPT (like SPS-ALPHA)
6: High-Frequency WPT SPS (e.g., lasers)
7: Lunar Solar Power
8: Libration Point SPS
9: Space-Based Mirror
10: Microwave Swarm
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Taken From
“The Case for Space Solar Power”
&
IAA “The First International Assessment of SSP”
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SPS with Large PMAD & Microwave WPT
(like the 1979 SPS Reference)
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SPS with µwave WPT and Reflector-Based Interconnects
(like the “Abacus Reflector”)
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SPS with Gravity Gradient & Modular Elements,
Integrated PMAD w/ µwave WPT (like SunTower)
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SPS w/ modular “Sandwich µwave WPT”
(like the Sandwich WPT SPS concept of Prof. Kaya)
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Hyper-modular SPS w/ µwave WPT (like SPS-ALPHA)
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High-Frequency WPT SPS (e.g., lasers)
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Lunar Solar Power
Figure from Shimizu Corporation (“LunaRing” c. 2009)
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Libration Point SPS
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Space-Based Mirror
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Microwave Swarm - SPS
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Integrated Assessment of SSP Options
(including Technical, Programmatic and Policy Factors)
from “The Case for Space Solar Power”
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1: SPS with Microwave WPT
(like the 1979 SPS Ref.)
2: SPS with µwave WPT and
Reflector-Based Interconnects
(like the “Abacus Reflector”)
3: SPS w/ µwave WPT (like
SunTower)
4: SPS w/ modular µwave
WPT; (like the Sandwich SPS
concept of Prof. Kaya)
5: SPS w/ µwave WPT (like
SPS-ALPHA)
6: High-Frequency WPT SPS
(e.g., lasers)
7: Lunar Solar Power
8: Libration Point SPS
9: Space-Based Mirror
! 10: Microwave Swarm
pg. 21
Space Solar Power
The Hyper-Modular Approach
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SPS-ALPHA A New Architectural Approach
A New Approach Modular Networked Systems
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pg. 23
SPS-ALPHA Hyper-Modular Architecture
One Architecture – Many Possible Implementations
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pg. 24
SPS-ALPHA: A new Approach to SSP
Le Parisien, 28 June 2013
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pg. 25
SPS-ALPHA: Key Technologies – The Platform
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Low-Mass / High-Strength Structural Materials / Systems
High-Temperature / High-Efficiency Electronic Materials
Robust / Highly-Reliable Mechanisms / Actuators (& related Tribology)
High-Aspect Ratio / High-Strength / Low-Mass Deployable Beams
Radiation / SEU /Latch-Up Tolerant Electronic Devices
Low-Mass / High-Reflectivity Thin-Film Reflectors
Space-Based WiFi / Wireless Communications Networks
High-Efficiency / Low Mass Solar Cells / Arrays
High-Efficiency / Low-Mass Retro-directive WPT w/ High-Efficiency
Amplifiers
Low-Mass / Moderate Temperature Thermal Management
Modular Reconfigurable Power Management & Distribution
High-Efficiency / Moderate-Thrust Electric Propulsion
Highly-Autonomous Systems / Reconfigurable Avionics
Autonomous Robotics / Manipulators (in Highly Structured Environments)
Autonomous Guidance, Navigation and Control
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SPS-ALPHA: Key Technologies – Others…
• To paraphrase…
Space Transportation...!
Space Transportation...!
Space Transportation...!
... And several others, not as crucial
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Space Solar Power vs. Other Options
(including Nuclear)
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Space Solar Power Overview & Technology
Closing / Issues
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Closing
• The hyper-modular / microwave WPT approach to SSP appears to
enable a clear, affordable and practical path of large-scale solar power
from space for Earth
• Policy and regulatory issues are challenging, but solvable
• Within 10-15 years, SSP could become the largest industry in space,
and remain so for the foreseeable future; and, within a few decades
SSP could benefit people and markets on every continent
• Moreover, the advent of megawatts to gigawatts of power in space at
an LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) of less than 5¢ per kilowatt-hour
(versus today’s typical cost of some $50 per kW-hr, give or take) would
radically transform future space missions and markets
If it is cost-effective, emergence of affordable and profitable
Space Solar Power could have far-reaching impacts on the future
of of human activities in space, and the quality of human life on
Earth
This will be the topic of tomorrow’s talk...
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