Table 10.3.14 Demo 2 Schedule 10.3.6 Summary and Conclusions Conclusion of the $800 M Design Example Our conclusion is that a space to space demonstration with the current technology would cost billions. Thus our recommendation to the client is that the stage following the $80 M demo is a research and development phase resulting in a proposal for a space to Earth demonstration. We have identified several areas of technology development that would facilitate a space solar power program; the primary develop needs are in the areas of 35 GHz phased arrays, high power generation devices, and the rectenna receiving elements. Within the context of a Space Solar Power Program, the space to Earth demonstration falls in a crucial position that could be a turning point in determining the future of solar power for Earth. This stage of the program occurs after small-scale demonstrations showing the feasibility of beaming Earth to space and from space to space, but before we have reached the technical or commercial viability of a large-scale space to Earth power use. To bridge this gap between theoretical and practical feasibility may take more than one step. Thus we conclude with an additional demonstration that will lead us into the demo 3 phase (1 MW) of a space solar power program. 100 kW Early Commercial Design Example High Level Requirements The purpose of this design example is to demonstrate technical and commercial suitability of solar power satellite concept. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that the previous step ($800 M design example) was limited to technological experiments only, regardless any further use of the power supplied. Therefore, the goal of the present step is to prove that energy available in space can be beamed down to Earth for actual use afterwards. In addition, this step shall prove also the commercial potential of the solar power satellite concept. Consequently this step shall be a logical follow-on to the previous one in the sense that it assumes that the basic technical problems such as large power generation systems and large phased array antennas would have been (at least partly) solved in the $800 M space to Earth demonstrator. Thus, this section focuses on beaming significant amount of power to ground rather than technological experiments, with relaxed cost constraints. Furthermore, this example stands before the 1 MW precursor. The following set of high level requirements can be proposed: • 100 kW delivered on ground ; • 10 years lifetime • Time schedule: within 15 years • Cost: to be defined, in the order of a few billions.
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