5.4 CONCLUDING REMARKS Within the limits of present knowledge, it is expected that the cost of the SPS would be higher than that of the conventional technologies, its environmental problems different, and its resource consumption (in the form of land instead of fuels) no less important. However, this conclusion probably results in large part from the character of the SPS reference design. Conventional technology and ideas are incorporated into this reference design; they make it the most believable SPS concept but possibly not the most viable. A more advanced SPS concept might compare more favorably to the conventional technologies, but would be difficult to characterize. However, in order to go forward with such a large new venture as SPS, it is important that the payoffs be significant. Therefore a more advanced SPS concept might provide the margins of benefit that are needed to support such a large new technological venture. For example, the introduction of a different, more intense form of microwave transmission could reduce the land requirements, the microwave impacts, and the overall cost of the technology. Each one of these impact areas is a sensitive issue for the current SPS reference design. Therefore, it should be noted that the comparative assessment reported in this document considered only one concept for the SPS design, and that others, although much more advanced, may compare more favorably than the one chosen.
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