Space solar power generation: A viable system proposal and technoeconomic analysis
Oren S. Mizrahi, Phillip Jahelka, Eleftherios Gdoutos, Jesse Brunet, Alex Ayling, Austin Fikes, Ailec Wu, Richard Madonna, Harry A. Atwater, Sergio Pellegrino, Ali Hajimiri
Abstract
This paper presents a distributed space solar power system that converts solar insolation into microwave power and beams it to Earth. This system, composed of a power station of close-flying modules residing in geostationary orbit, can form dynamically programmable focal points on Earth to provide dispatchable power on demand. Modules are composed of flexible phased array sheets hosting a self-synchronizing network of integrated circuits and antennas that convert DC power from photovoltaic cells into radiated RF energy. The sheets are coiled into a compact payload, launched, and deployed in orbit. Here, we present a detailed technoeconomic analysis of the proposed system, with investigations into mass, cost to produce and launch, and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Our analyses demonstrate that with 10 years of technology development, maturation, and scaling, the proposed 10 GHz system can deliver electricity at 9.4 ¢/kWh—competitive with the cheapest clean energy sources available today.