SOME ASPECTS OF SPS ACCEPTABILITY IN EUROPE Raefe M. Shelton and Ivor V. Franklin British Aerospace Dynamics Group - Bristol, U.K. INTRODUCTION SPS has International implications because of its nature and its scale; we believe that these imply international involvement and participation. This in turn requires consideration of other nations1 requirements and preferences. SPS Acceptability embraces in a sense the whole scope of the US Concept Development and Evaluation Programme. In this paper it is intended to select a few areas where European, and in particular UK, conditions may differ from those upon which the US SPS Reference System were based. Three aspects of SPS acceptability will be discussed: Environmental, the Utilities interface, and Political and Public acceptability. ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY Although following the work on the possible radiation hazards, Europe and the UK are particularly concerned over contamination of the Electromagnetic environment, because of the high density of potential "victim" systems. Studies have been initiated at BAe on implications for Satellite communications, by the UK Home Office in conjunction with Sussex University on Ionospheric interactions and the generation of harmful harmonics, and a dialogue has been initiated with the UK Science Research Council to consider the implications for Scientific Research (particularly Radio-astronomy). Other areas requiring attention are Defense Systems, aircraft communication and navigation systems. However, the greatest environmental problem for Europe, with it high population density and intense land usage, is that of Rectenna siting. The problem is made worse by Europe's higher average latitude; most of our major energyconsuming centres lie between latitudes A5 and 55 N. To serve these centres rectennae based upon the Reference System model would have long axes of up to A2 km and areas approaching 750 km2 - ignoring longitude - offset effects. The siting of any appreciable number of such rectennae would involve displacing thousands, if not millions, of people. Two approaches are being pursued. The first aims at reducing individual rectenna size by modifications to the power transmission system, either by the use of multiple beams or of intermediate relay stations employing hybrid laser/ microwave transmission systems to obtain the benefits of each without their accompanying disadvantages. The second approach is to site rectennae off-shore. This approach is perhaps particularly appropriate for Europe; our geography is favourable, with a coastline which, when "straightened out", is twice as long as that of the US, with extensive regions with water depths of between 10 m and 30 m. More than 80% of Europe's major energy consumption centres lie less than 300 km from the coast. ACCEPTABILITY TO THE ENERGY UTILITIES SPS possesses two major characteristics, other than the economics and reliability inherent in its "non-depl etab 1e" nature. These are its constancy and the size of its "quanta". In both cases Europe is favourably placed to absorb SPS- derived electricity, due to our centralised national generating authorities, wel1-developed transmission and distribution networks, and our already- established facilities for power sharing across national boundaries. The UK particularly would have to look to off-shore rectenna siting, but to a large degree such siting could be based upon geographical and engineering consider-
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