Solar Power Satellites
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Solar Power Satellites August 1981 NTIS order #PB82-108846 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 81-600129 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 Foreword The energy difficulties the Nation has faced over the past decade have given rise to an increased awareness of the potential long-term, inexhaustible, or renewable energy technologies. This assessment responds to a request by the House Committee on Science and Technology for an evaluation of the energy potential of one of the most ambitious and long-term of these technologies, the solar power satellite (SPS). In assessing SPS, OTA has taken into account the preliminary nature of SPS technology by comparing four alternative SPS systems across a broad range of issues: their technical characteristics, long-term energy supply potential, interna- tional and military implications, environmental impacts, and institutional effects. The SPS options are also compared to potentially competitive future energy technologies in order to identify how choices among them might be made. In addi- tion, OTA developed a set of Federal research and funding options to address the central questions and uncertainties identified in the report. We were greatly aided by the advice of the SPS advisory panel, as well as by the participants in three specialized workshops: one on alternative SPS systems, one on public opinion, and another on competing energy supply technologies. The contri- butions of a number of contractors, who provided important analyses, and of numerous individuals who gave generously of their time and knowledge, are gratefully appreciated. Director . Ill Solar Power Satellites Advisory Panel John P. Schaefer, Chairman University of Arizona Paul Craig Jerry Grey John J. Sheehan University of California American Institute of Aeronautics United Steelworkers of America S. David Freeman and Astronautics Graham SiegeI Tennessee Valley Authority Grant Hansen Tennessee Valley Authority Eilene Galloway SDC Corp. Robert Uhrig Consultant Russell Hensley Florida Power & Light Karl Gawell Aetna Life & Casualty Frank von Hippel Solar Energy Research Institute Maureen Lamb Princeton University Peter G laser Consultant Charles Warren Arthur D. Little, Inc. J. C. Randolph Attorney University of Indiana Workshop on Technical Options John W. Freeman, Jr., Chairman Joe G. Foreman John D. G. Rather Rice University Naval Research Laboratories The B.D.M. Corp. Kenneth Billman Jerry Grey Fred Sterzer Electric Power Research Institute American Institute of Aeronautics RCA Laboratories Hubert P. Davis and Astronautics Frank von Hippel Eagle Engineering Abraham Hertz berg Princeton University Henry M. Foley University of Washington Gordon Woodcock Colurnbia University Boeing Aerospace Co Workshop on SPS Public Opinion Issues Ken Bossong Leonard David Skip Laitner Citizens Energy Project National Space Institute Community Action Research Croup Ben Bova Chris E If ring of Iowa, Inc. OMNI Office of Technology Assessment Maureen Lamb Clifflyn Bromling Joe Foreman Consultant Bromling and Associates Naval Research Laboratories Jenifer Robinson Mike Casper Jerry Grey Office of Technology Assessment Carlton College American Institute of Aeronautics Louis Slesin Earl Cook and Astronautics Natural Resources Defense Texas A&M Council, Inc. Workshop on Energy Context of Solar Power Satellites Clark Bullard, Chairman Peter Drummond William Metz University of Illinois McDonnel-Douglas Astronautics Consultant Charles Baker Lessly Goudarzi David Morris Argonne National Laboratory International Energy Associates, Institute for Local Self Reliance Piet Bos Limited James Moyer Electric Power Research Institute Kenneth Hub Southern California Edison Glen Brandvold Argonne National Laboratory Larry Ruff Sandia National Laboratory Jerry Karaganis Brook haven National Laboratory Clifflyn Bromling Edison Electric Institute Frank von Hippel Bromling & Associates John Lamarsh Princeton University Paul Craig Polytechnic Institute of New York Gordon Woodcock University of California Kenneth Ling Boeing Aerospace Co. Applied Solar Energy Corp. iv Solar Power Satellites Project Staff Lionel S. Johns, Assistant Director, OTA Energy, Materials, and International Security Division Richard E. Rowberg, Energy Program Manager David Claridge, Project Director (until January 1980) Ray A. Williamson, Project Director (from January 1980) Stefi Weisburd Adam Wasserman Administrative Staff Marian Grochowski Lisa Jacobson Lillian Quigg Edna Saunders Yvonne White Contributors Clifflyn Bromling Alan Crane Arlene Maclin William Metz Contractors and Consultants Eric Drexler International Energy Associates, Ltd. John Furber David Morris Mark Gersovitz Institute for Local Self Reliance Princeton University Barry Smernoff Jerry Grey Smernoff & Associates OTA Publishing Staff John C. Holmes, Publishing Officer John Bergling Kathie S. Boss Debra M. Datcher Joe Henson Acknowledgments OTA thanks the following people who took time to provide information or to review part or all of the study. Martin Abromavage, Argonne National Laboratory Ernest L. Morrison, National Telecommunications Edwin Beatrice, Letterman Army Institute of and Information Administration Research Fred Osborne, Sunsat Energy Council Richard Beverly and William Brown, Raytheon Steven Plotkin, Office of Technology Assessment Tom Bull, Office of Technology Assessment John Richardson, National Academy of Sciences Daniel F. Cahill, U.S. Environmental Protection Michael Riches, U.S. Department of Energy Agency Donald Rote, Argonne National Laboratory Don Calahan, National Aeronautics and Space Charles Rush, National Telecommunications and Administration Information Administration Stephen Cheston, Georgetown University Richard Santopietro, U.S. Department of Energy Stephen Cleary, Mfedical College of Virginia Carl Schwenk, National Aeronautics and Space P. Czerski, National Research Institute of Mother Administration and Child, Poland Richard Setlow, Brookhaven National Laboratory Steven Doyle, Office of Technology Assessment Charlotte Silverman, U.S. Public Health Service Lewis Duncan, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory David Sliney, U.S. Army Environment/ Hygiene William Erickson, University of Mary/and Agency Harold A. Feiveson, Woodrow Wilson School, Marcia Smith, Congressional/ Research Service Princeton University Gerald Stokes, Pacific Northwest Laboratory Zorach Glaser, Bureau of Radiological Health A.R. Thompson, National Radio Astronomy Anita Harlan, L-5 Society Observatory John Hooper, Sierra Club Kosta Tsipas, Massachusetts Institute’ of Wayne Jones, Lockheed Corp. Technology Don Justesen, Veterans Administration Paul Tyler, Armed Forces Radiological Research Fred Koomanoff, U.S. Department of Energy Institute John Logsdon, George Washington University A.R. Valentine, Argonne National Laboratory Simon V. Manson, National Aeronautics and Peter Vajk, Science Applications, Inc. Space Administration Margaret White, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Richard Marsten, Office of Technology John Zinn, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Assessment Contents Chapter Page 1. Summary. 3 2. Introduction . 17 3. Issues and Find ngs . 23 4. Policy Options. 55 5. Alternative Systems for SPS . 65 6. SPS inContext. 101 7. The International Implications of Solar Power Satellites . 145 8. Environment and Health. 179 9. Institutional Issues . 227 A. Alternatives to the Reference System Subsystems . , . 265 B. Decentralized Photo voltaic Model . ................269 c. Global Energy Demand Forecasts . .. ...271 D. Environment and Health . .......275 E. Examples of international Cooperation . .........289 Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Glossary . .. ....293 Chapter 1 Contents Page Current Status . 3 Energy Context . 5 International and Military Imp ications. 7 Systems and Costs. 7 Public Issues. 10 Environment and Health . 10 Space Context. 14 LIST OF TABLES Page Characterization of Four Alternative SPS Systems. 9 Summaryof SPS Environmental Impacts . 12 The solar power satellite (SPS) concepts en- ● Mirror transmission. Orbiting mirrors vision using the constant availability of sun- would reflect sunlight directly to central light in space to generate baseload electricity locations on Earth. Terrestrial solar re- on Earth. Orbiting satellites would collect ceivers would convert the resulting 24- solar energy and beam it to Earth where it hour illumination to electricity. would be converted to electricity. Three major Since SPS would be a major future energy alternative systems have been suggested. system with diverse potential impacts and im- ● Microwave transmission. Solar radiation placations, this assessment of SPS technology would be collected in space and con- is interdisciplinary. It includes the study of SPS verted to microwaves. Microwave energy interactions with society, the environment, the would be beamed to a receiving antenna economy, and other energy systems. in addi- on Earth where it would be converted to tion, because space is an international realm electricity. and energy is a global need, this assessment Laser transmission. Solar radiation would also undertakes a broad look at the interna- be collected in space and converted to in- tional aspects of SPS. frared laser radiation. The lasers would beam power to an Earth receiver. CURRENT STATUS Too little is currently known about the techni- designate an agency to track generic research cal, economic, and environmental aspects of SPS which is applicable to SPS, to review trends in to make