This stage of the SSPP development plan would be important to show the production of space to earth solar power on a city scale and gain acceptance of this technology. Full scale power delivery The full scale power delivery system will use a constellation of satellites each generating 5 GW of baseload electrical power for direct connection to electricity grids. Each space power station has a lifetime of 30 years. The recurring cost of these satellites has been calculated to be of the order of $30 BN at current technology levels. From the financial viability analysis we can see that these systems are the first that offer the potential for large scale profits, if the cost of capital for the program can be written off, i.e. 0% return on invested capital. A financial analysis has been performed for this type of sytem. This is based on a NASA/Department of Environment (DOE) study conducted in 1978 which proposed a constellation of 120 5GW solar power satellites. A cost breakdown and sensitivity analysis for this program is shown in section 11.1.2. For this analysis the cost of satellite development has not been included. Results of the analysis and assumptions are presented below. Figure 11.7 Revenues and Costs for 120 5GW SPS Operation Figure 11.7 shows that for the nominal revenue case the project revenue will exceed project costs after about 40 years. The assumptions associated with this analysis are: 1. No interest is incurred on the cost of venture capital. 2. Satellites have a thirty year lifetime. 3. The cost of system maintenance and operations is $567 Million per year. This is based on the cost data presented in section 11.1.2 plus a 15% contingency. 4. The satellites are operated for 23 hours per day and all generated power is sold. 5. Hi Rev - Energy is sold at $0.10 per kWh Nom. Rev. - Energy is sold at $0.05 per kWh Low Rev. - Energy is sold at $0,025 per kWh 6. Recurring satellite costs are $ 30.7 BN. This is based on the cost data presented in section 11.1.2 plus a 15% contingency. 7. Satellite system development costs are not considered.
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