The Space Power Grid: Synergy between space, energy and security policies

The dream of abundant solar-powered electricity from Space can be realized through global synergy between renewable energy, climate control and space development initiatives. A 3-phase plan is linked to the policy approaches needed to implement it. The 17-year initial phase will use a constellation of low/mid earth orbit satellites exchanging beamed power between 100 plants. Larger satellites with high-intensity converters, will replace the aging first set, receiving focused light from ultralight collectors in a scalable path to space solar power. European initiatives for a DC grid to integrate space and terrestrial solar power provide policy guidance. While technical challenges remain, the SPG integrates terrestrial systems at all size scales from utilities to household micro renewable energy systems.