IX. MANUFACTURING CAPACITY, NATURAL RESOURCES, TRANSPORTATION, AND ENERGY CONSIDERATIONS Ao Requirements The implementation of a large-scale SPS program (scenario B, sec. Ill) will require a significant increase in industrial capacity in certain areas and require assessment of the impact on natural resources and the transportation system. In addition, a measure of the "efficiency" or desirability of the SPS concept is the length of time required for an SPS to produce an amount of energy equivalent to that required for its implementation. The results of preliminary analyses of each of these topics are presented in the following paragraphs. B. Manufacturing Capacity An analysis of a conceptual design of the SPS was conducted to determine the fabricated components and processed materials required. The results indicated that a "mass production" capability would have to be developed and installed to produce the approximately 1 billion solar cells required. A greatly expanded processing capacity would be required for the large amounts of hydrogen, oxygen, and possibly argon needed for the transportation systems. A new industrial base would be required in selected areas for the production of gallium arsenide diodes and for the reduction of arsenic from oxides. C. Natural Resources Table IX-1 presents an estimate of the natural resources required for the implementation of an SPS of "nominal" weight. The resources required for a program involving 112 SPS's (scenario B) will not seriously impact U.S. and/or world resources with the possible exception of aluminum. Aluminum ore (bauxite) is currently being imported for the production of nearly all U.S. aluminum. Imports would have to be expanded to meet SPS requirements. The implementation of an SPS would result in the use of approximately 3 percent of world demand in the year 2000. It should be noted that the conceptual design assumed for this analysis used aluminum as the support structure for the rectenna (224 required for 112 SPS's). This use constitutes practically all of the 3 percent cited previously. Future studies should obviously consult alternates to the use of aluminum for this purpose if the amount required represents a significant problem to aluminum resources. D. Surface Transportation The transportation of raw materials, fabricated components, and assemblies to the launch site must be considered. A study was conducted
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