Space-Based Solar Power Systems
Summary
Space-based solar power systems collect solar irradiance in orbit, convert it into electrical energy and transmit it wirelessly to terrestrial receivers. By operating above the atmosphere and beyond diurnal and seasonal variations, these systems offer continuous baseload electricity with power densities far exceeding terrestrial photovoltaics. Typical architectures deploy large arrays of photovoltaic panels in geostationary or low-Earth orbit, convert DC output into microwave or laser beams via phased-array transmitters and deliver energy to ground-based rectennas. Key challenges include minimising launch mass through modularisation, ensuring precise beam control over vast distances and achieving competitive levelised cost of energy through advances in lightweight materials, in-orbit assembly and reusable launch vehicles.
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Space-Based Solar Power Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in space-based solar power systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Geostationary orbit: a circular orbit 35,786 km above the equator in which a satellite remains fixed relative to the Earth’s surface.
Microwave wireless power transmission: the process of converting electrical energy into microwaves, beaming them through space and reconverting them to electricity at a receiver.
Rectenna: a coupled antenna and rectifier assembly that captures incoming microwave energy and converts it into direct current.
Levelised cost of energy (LCOE): the total cost per unit of generated electricity over a system’s lifetime, accounting for capital, operating and maintenance expenses.
Phased array: an arrangement of multiple antennas whose relative phases are electronically controlled to steer and shape the transmitted beam without moving parts.
References
- Towards net zero: A technological review on the potential of space-based solar power and wireless power transmission. Heliyon (2024).
- Space solar power generation: A viable system proposal and technoeconomic analysis. Joule (2025).
- Commissioning and optimal load dispatch for supplying base and peak loads from Satellite Solar Power Station (SSPS) Using Microwave Wireless Power Transfer (MWPT). Sustainable Energy Research (2023).
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