Abstract
Major conclusions of previous studies on the SPS (solar power satellite) project - the proposal to collect solar energy in orbit and to transmit it to earth as a coherent microwave beam for reconversion to electricity - are that the system appears likely to be technically feasible, but that it will be economically feasible only if major reductions are made in the cost of certain subsystems, most notably in the fields of photovoltaic cells and in space transportation and operations. The former field is currently experiencing rapid advances, along with the rest of the semiconductor industry, while the achievement of the necessary cost targets in the latter field will depend on the development of a family of fully reusable space transportation vehicles as a successor to the present U.S. space shuttle. In order to assess the system's full economic potential it is also necessary to examine the most profitable means of operation. Most studies to date have assumed that, because of the SPS's high capital cost and the corresponding need to maximise its usage, each satellite would be used to transmit base load power more or less continuously to a single rectenna. However, this assumption overlooks the fact that the
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Citation Formats
Collins, P Q, and Tomkins, R.
Flexible operation of a system of SPSs for load following.
United Kingdom: N. p.,
1984.
Web.
Collins, P Q, & Tomkins, R.
Flexible operation of a system of SPSs for load following.
United Kingdom.
Collins, P Q, and Tomkins, R.
1984.
"Flexible operation of a system of SPSs for load following."
United Kingdom.
@misc{etde_6294885,
title = {Flexible operation of a system of SPSs for load following}
author = {Collins, P Q, and Tomkins, R}
abstractNote = {Major conclusions of previous studies on the SPS (solar power satellite) project - the proposal to collect solar energy in orbit and to transmit it to earth as a coherent microwave beam for reconversion to electricity - are that the system appears likely to be technically feasible, but that it will be economically feasible only if major reductions are made in the cost of certain subsystems, most notably in the fields of photovoltaic cells and in space transportation and operations. The former field is currently experiencing rapid advances, along with the rest of the semiconductor industry, while the achievement of the necessary cost targets in the latter field will depend on the development of a family of fully reusable space transportation vehicles as a successor to the present U.S. space shuttle. In order to assess the system's full economic potential it is also necessary to examine the most profitable means of operation. Most studies to date have assumed that, because of the SPS's high capital cost and the corresponding need to maximise its usage, each satellite would be used to transmit base load power more or less continuously to a single rectenna. However, this assumption overlooks the fact that the value of electric power is not constant but varies during the day and over the year. It therefore narrows the scope for SPS operation, and ignores a major part of the system's potential value. It also sets the most demanding cost targets for the SPS, since it would be in competition with other base-load plant with the lowest operating costs.}
journal = []
volume = {233}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1984}
month = {Apr}
}
title = {Flexible operation of a system of SPSs for load following}
author = {Collins, P Q, and Tomkins, R}
abstractNote = {Major conclusions of previous studies on the SPS (solar power satellite) project - the proposal to collect solar energy in orbit and to transmit it to earth as a coherent microwave beam for reconversion to electricity - are that the system appears likely to be technically feasible, but that it will be economically feasible only if major reductions are made in the cost of certain subsystems, most notably in the fields of photovoltaic cells and in space transportation and operations. The former field is currently experiencing rapid advances, along with the rest of the semiconductor industry, while the achievement of the necessary cost targets in the latter field will depend on the development of a family of fully reusable space transportation vehicles as a successor to the present U.S. space shuttle. In order to assess the system's full economic potential it is also necessary to examine the most profitable means of operation. Most studies to date have assumed that, because of the SPS's high capital cost and the corresponding need to maximise its usage, each satellite would be used to transmit base load power more or less continuously to a single rectenna. However, this assumption overlooks the fact that the value of electric power is not constant but varies during the day and over the year. It therefore narrows the scope for SPS operation, and ignores a major part of the system's potential value. It also sets the most demanding cost targets for the SPS, since it would be in competition with other base-load plant with the lowest operating costs.}
journal = []
volume = {233}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {1984}
month = {Apr}
}