THE EARTH BENEFITS OF SOLAR POWER SATELLITES* PETER E. GLASER Vice President Arthur D. Little, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts Abstract — The potential of solar energy to meet global needs is surveyed with emphasis on solar energy conversion in space for use on Earth. The advantages of this approach are compared with terrestrial solar energy conversion methods. The concept of the solar power satellite (SPS) is presented and the technology options for converting solar energy in space, transmitting power, and converting it on Earth into electricity are summarized. The requirements for space transportation systems, orbital assembly, and maintenance are reviewed. Economic and institutional issues are outlined and the environmental impacts of SPS operations are highlighted. A phased SPS development program is presented and possible organizational structures to achieve the potential of this njajor option for power generation on Earth are outlined. 1. INTRODUCTION We are not masters of our destiny, and yet, the actions we take now will determine it. Our perception of the future has changed radically, as we have gained a new perspective of the limits to the availability of energy resources so dramatically brought to our attention in 1973. Intuitively, in the 60's, we still perceived the world as infinite, a perception which previously had permitted us to act almost without constraint. In the early 70's, we became conscious that this view was inappropriate. As a result, we are more uncertain about the future, and our general expectation and optimism have decreased. We have seen national economies seriously dislocated by sharply increased energy costs. The resulting energy problem has brought a consciousness to the broader public of what actually has been a reality for a long time, that energy is the key to the social development of man and essential to improving the quality of life beyond the basic activities necessary for survival. The recognition that no one energy source will, by itself, meet all future energy demands, that the search for new sources of nonrenewable fuels can only put off the day of their ultimate exhaustion, and that uncertainties in achieving the global potential of known energy conversion methods are great has led to renewed emphasis on the inexhaustible energy source represented by the sun. Solar energy could provide for virtually unlimited amounts of energy to meet all conceivable future needs. Yet, today, we are using practically no solar energy. Instead, we are burning cheap oil and gas and cheap oil and gas are limited resources. In principle, we have infinite energy in a finite world; whereas, in reality, we are using finite energy in a world that was, until recently, perceived to be infinite. Obviously, we cannot easily switch from the way we use our energy resources now to a future where we will use renewable resources. *Presented at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Conference on Longterm Energy Resources, Session on the Direct use of Solar Energy, Montreal, Canada. 4 December. 1979
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