A
solar power satellite, or
SPS or
Powersat, as originally proposed would be a
satellite built in
high Earth orbit that uses
microwave power transmission to beam
solar power to a very large
antenna on Earth. Advantages of placing the
solar collectors in space include the unobstructed view of the
Sun, unaffected by the day/night cycle, weather, or seasons
[1]. It is a
renewable energy source,
zero emission, and only generates waste as a product of manufacture and maintenance. However, the costs of construction are very high, and SPS will not be able to compete with conventional sources (at current
energy prices) unless at least one of the following conditions is met:
- Low launch costs can be achieved
- A space-based manufacturing industry develops that is capable of building solar power satellites in orbit, using off-Earth materials