matters. Countries with an interest are invited to contact the SPS 2000 Working Group. The rectenna system will be designed to require minimal maintenance. Once installed, its operation will be automatic. The most challenging part of the SPS 2000 Ground System will be design and operation of the local electricity supply network for the maximum benefit of local communities. Some of the power produced will probably be used for communal purposes, such as for improving education and health services. Some of the power will probably be sold for domestic consumption, and some with be used commercially to aid local economic development. Representatives of the user communities will have to plan this before the system is designed. Experience of small-scale electricity supply systems, and exchange of information between rectenna user-groups in different countries will also be useful. The concept of collecting solar energy in space for use on Earth is more than 20 years old. The objective of the SPS 2000 Project is to make a real demonstration of the concept using available technology, and to use it to provide useful electric power to equatorial communities. Consequently, the project will require international cooperation in order to succeed. We hope that in this way we can prove that clean energy from space can be a future resource for humans on Earth.
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