In addition to investigating the potential impact of an SPS technology programme on European space activities, ESA will continue to promote the assessment of the SPS concept in Europe through the organization of working groups. The present lack of communication between space and energy organizations makes it very difficult to come to a comprehensive understanding of the potential benefits and penalties of using the SPS as part of the European energy supply. 5. Conclusions At present, Europe's energy needs are satisfied mainly by oil, coal, and natural gas. More than 50% of this energy is imported, mostly as oil. Current predictions assume that the demand will grow and that Europe will continue to import at least 50% of its energy needs. In view of the unfavourable geographical and climatic situation of large parts of Europe, terrestrial solar energy conversion is unlikely to make a significant contribution to Europe's future energy supply. The use of solar energy via the SPS approach could therefore prove to be of major interest if its technical, economic and societal viability can be demonstrated for European conditions. The SPS is being studied in several European countries and by ESA. The total effort has been considerably smaller than in the United States, but a number of specific European aspects have already been identified and will be studied further. Because of the compactness and much higher population density of Europe, it will be very difficult for example to find suitable rectenna sites on land. Reduction of individual rectenna areas and/or the placing of rectenna offshore will be very critical as far as the acceptability of the SPS for Europe is concerned. Part of the European studies involves analysis of the role that Europe might want or might be able to play in an SPS technology and development programme. Europe has a good space-technology infrastructure combined with considerable experience in planning and executing international space projects and this could form the basis for strong European participation in a joint international SPS venture with the United States and other countries. A specific European problem is the fact that there is no European equivalent to the Department of Energy in the USA which could co-ordinate and fund the European elements of an SPS programme. Based on its technical expertises and its experience in the management of large international projects, ESA could undoubtedly play a major role in any future European SPS activities and it will therefore continue to investigate system aspects and selected areas of relevant space technology.
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