A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE REFERENCE SATELLITE POWER SYSTEM WITH SELECTED CURRENT, NEAR-TERM AND ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES by Michael R. Riches Program Manager The SPS Concept Development and Evaluation Program (CDEP) was established by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to generate information by which a rational decision could be made regarding the direction of the Satellite Power System (SPS) program after fiscal 1980. The four functional areas within the joint DOE/ NASA-CDEP are as follows: • Systans Definition: development of the SPS reference system design. « Environmental Assessment: evaluation of potential environmental effects of SPS. ® Societal Assessment: evaluation of potential societal effects of SPS. « Comparative Assessment: development of a comparative data base on the SPS and other energy systems. The results of the first three activities are inputs to the comparative assessment process as well as independent program assessments. This report concerns the Comparative Assessment portion of the DOE/ NASA-CDEP. The objective of the comparative assessment is to develop a traceable comparative data base for those making decisions on the SPS and near-term and advanced energy technologies. To achieve this objective, alternative energy technologies were selected, characterized, and evaluated according to a prescribed framework. These evaluations were then integrated into a comparative assessment. This process is shown in Fig. 1. The six- step comparative methodology is described more thoroughly in reference (1) . Other Comparative Assessment reports are included in the bibliography. The information presented in these comparisons is for the most part traceable to research reports, cited in the bibliography, on the various energy systems. However, because of its comparative nature, this assessment includes, in some instances, estimates and conclusions based on judgments made from the documented data base. Comparative information was assanbled on an issue-by-
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