CHAPTER 1 Solar Power Satellite [SPS] R&D and International Cooperation SPS R&D and International Cooperation 1. Sunshine Project and Solar Power Satellite (1) Sunshine Project and Global Environment Preservation The Sunshine Project to develop technologies for alternative energy resources to replace petroleum was started in 1974 as a National Project of the Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, MITI. Since then, researches have been continued to develop energy resources technologies such as photovoltaic power generation, geothermal power generation, coal liquefaction and gasification, and use of hydrogen energy. However, 16 years after the Project was started, a change occured in the project's basic policy. Because of the urgency in coping with global environmental issues and the present situation surrounding energy research and development that necessitates the development of innovative technologies over a long-term perspective, it was decided that the present energy resources diversification objective would be expanded by starting long-term R&D projects extending beyond the year 2000 to help resolve global environment issues through the development of innovative clean energy resources. The R&D themes adopted by the Sunshine Project were reassessed, the present research themes were coordinated and several new themes were added (Fig. 1). One new theme is solar power satellite technology research, a long-term R&D theme extending beyond the year 2020, which will be part of activities to develop solar energy technologies. (2) Outline of Solar Power Satellite [SPS] The solar power satellite uses a massive artificial satellite incorporating a large photovoltaic power generation system in geostationary orbit. The enormous power generated is converted into microwaves and transmitted to the earth where the microwaves are received with an earth antenna and reconverted into electricity. This idea was proposed in 1968 by Dr. P. E. Glaser who was then a member of NASA. By using photovoltaic power generation technology in outer space the problem of interference by weather, which frequently impedes the use of solar energy, would be eliminated, so by using several satellites and several earth power-receiving stations in combination, power could be supplied from outer space to the earth around the clock. This proposal appeared fantastic then, but in the United States, the Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA conducted a joint feasibility study in 1977-1979. This study assumed a photovoltaic power generation satellite equipped with a massive solar cell panel 10 km long and 5 km wide, and a power generation capacity of 5.000,000 kW (Fig. 2). Various problems were identified in the '’environment." ’’economy" and "society" when 60 sets of these SPS were launched into outer space to meet the power demands of the entire country. (3) R&D of Solar Power Satellite in Sunshine Project In the Sunshine Project, research study commenced in FY 1991 on SPS as a futuristic system for solar energy utilization. This restudied the feasibility of the country's present energy system, to evaluate the influences of SPS on the earth's environment, and to restudy SPS's feasibility once more by taking into account the changes which have occurred in the energy situation, ten years after the SPS study conducted by DOE and NASA. A research study committee was established under the leadership of NEDO. and several working groups under the committee studied various themes independently. The contents of these studies during FY 1991 were: 1) Survey of Present SPS R&D In Japan and Other Countries a. Trends of R&D in Japan and Other Countries A survey will be conducted on trends of SPS R&D in Japan and other countries, to elucidate the system characteristics and problems involved. b. Study of Technological Development Studies will assess (he existing and future possibilities of SPS’s main elements.
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