There has been extensive interest in Space based solar power (SBSP), following on from Frazer-Nash’s report into the feasibility of the concept for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
SBSP has been included in Pillar 1 of the UK Government’s National Space Strategy, for its role in supporting Net Zero and UK innovation and growth, and BEIS has announced that early technology development related to SBSP will be funded under the ‘disruptive technologies’ strand of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.
Discussions about the potential of SBSP are taking place around the globe, hosted by a diverse range of organisations. The UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult launched a new episode of its podcast on 7 December, in which Frazer-Nash’s Space Business Manager, Martin Soltau and Space Strategy Lead, Ali Stickings, talk to David Homfray, Space Power Lead at the Satellite Applications Catapult and space journalist Sarah Cruddas about the advances in capabilities that are helping to make SBSP possible for the future.
International Business Editor of the Financial Times, Peggy Hollinger, also recently explored SBSP, in a wide-ranging examination of the history of the technology and current international development efforts, including a discussion of the Frazer-Nash study.
The European Space Agency is holding an online two-day international workshop discussing SBSP on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 December, which will feature an international cast of speakers from the UK, USA, China, Japan, Korea, ESA, Australia and others.
Martin Soltau will present Frazer-Nash’s UK Study at the event, and will introduce the Space Energy Initiative (SEI) – an organisation set up to bring together government, research and industry in the energy and space sectors to develop and deliver a co-ordinated programme of technology development and demonstration for SBSP – of which he is co-chair. Martin and Ali will also take part in a panel discussion of the next steps for space solar power, alongside fellow experts Ili Portuges, Ian Cash and John Mankins.
Martin also ‘virtually’ presented the Frazer-Nash study into space based solar power during the space power session of the 2021 IAA International Symposium on the peaceful use of space technology, organised by the International Peace Alliance (Space), on 20 November; while co-chair of the SEI, Sam Adlen, appeared on BBC World News Climate Critical, to discuss the future of SBSP, how it compares to current power sources, and what it means for Net Zero.
To read the study in full, visit https://www.fnc.co.uk/discover-frazer-nash/news/frazer-nash-report-for-uk-government-shows-feasibility-of-space-solar-power/.
