A recent study led by King's College London highlights that space-based solar power (SBSP) could revolutionize Europe's energy landscape by reducing reliance on terrestrial wind and solar sources by up to 80%, and lowering overall grid costs by 7 to 15% by 2050.

The study models two NASA-inspired SBSP designs: a heliostat swarm capable of near-continuous operation and a more mature planar array that functions about 60% of the time, with the heliostat design potentially outperforming wind and solar power by 2050.

These systems could significantly cut the need for large-scale battery storage by over 70% and decrease grid costs, although some colder regions might still require hydrogen storage.

Both designs leverage orbiting solar panels that face the sun constantly, capturing higher solar radiation and providing near-uninterrupted power, surpassing the efficiency of current Earth-based solar panels.

The research emphasizes that full realization of SBSP's benefits might not occur before 2050 due to high initial costs, but technological breakthroughs could accelerate deployment.

The study also suggests developing both SBSP designs simultaneously—starting with the more mature planar array to demonstrate feasibility while continuing R&D on the heliostat system to achieve cost-effectiveness.

Addressing challenges like orbital congestion, space debris, and wireless energy transmission reliability is crucial for sustainable SBSP deployment, with future considerations including system risks and degradation.

Several countries, including China, Japan, Russia, the US, and the UK, are actively pursuing SBSP, inspired by NASA technology, with Japan already integrating it into its climate and space strategies.

This research marks a significant shift from conceptual ideas to feasible large-scale testing and policy discussions, with findings published in the journal Joule.

The economic hurdles remain substantial, as current SBSP costs are 10 to 100 times higher than terrestrial solar, requiring technological breakthroughs like large-scale wireless power transmission and orbital robotic assembly to become viable.

Despite these challenges, SBSP offers a reliable, weather-independent renewable energy source, less vulnerable to natural disasters, with the potential to contribute significantly to Europe's energy transition.

The concept of space-based solar power, first proposed in 1968, is now being actively pursued globally, with designs inspired by NASA technology and a growing focus on its potential to meet future energy needs.