II.5 Would a breakthrough on fusion obviate the need for SPS? What forms and amounts of energy would fusion energy replace that would reduce the need for SPS? Fusion is a baseload central station electrical option, and therefore a companion technology to SPS. A competitive scenario exists only if both options are available at the same time, at similar costs, and under conditions for which energy supply shortfalls can be satisfied without having to resort to a mix of both options. If both are technically and environmentally acceptable, then other criteria would determine if SPS would be part of the energy portfolio along with fusion. A breakthrough in fusion would call for a reevaluation of all immediate post-2000 electric technologies. II.6 Wouldn't a breakthrough in terrestrial solar technologies reduce or eliminate the need for SPS? In particular, wouldn't advances in photovoltaics benefit terrestrial applications to the point where the SPS would be obsolete or comparatively uneconomical? If we compare baseload terrestrial photovoltaics to SPS, then a breakthrough in solar cell technology would bring down the cost of both systems. Most likely the decrease would favor terrestrial photovoltaics, but storage cost must also be reduced to increase the competitive position of baseload applications of terrestrial photovoltaics. Therefore, a breakthrough in photovoltaic technology and/or storage technology would require careful analysis against supply/demand, and economic, societal and environmental issues at that time. II.7 What impact will development of the SPS have on the labor market compared to alternate energy endeavors - Will it be labor-intensive or capital-intensive? A quantitative answer is not available at this time. However, it is known that SPS, as well as terrestrial photovoltaics and other distributed solar technolgies, will most likely utilize mass production facilities, most of which will be automated. Although the space construction portion of the satellite and operations will be highly automated, support service, rectenna construction, and maintenance labor requirements will be high and comparable to coal, nuclear, and central station solar technologies. The distributed technologies will differ in that they will utilize more local labor to assemble (roof-top modification, etc.) install, operate and maintain these technologies than does SPS or conventional technologies. The SPS Comparative Assessment, scheduled for completion'n June 1980, will more fully address this question.
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