Created: 2023-01-22
Updated: 2024-07-08
Company - Space Solar
Product/Service - CASSIOPeiA
- Classification
- Space Utilities
- Category
- Space Solar Power
Power Beaming
- Fields
- Wireless Power Transfer
- Status
- Development
- First launch
- 2029
- Solar Reflectors – The orientation of the satellites is sun pointing to constantly reflect sunlight onto the solar panel array below.
- Solar Panels and Transmitters – 60,000 layers of power modules collect the sunlight from the reflectors and convert this to high-frequency radio waves.
- Power Transmission – A coherent, collimated beam of radio waves is transmitted to a rectifying antenna on the ground.
The ‘rectenna’ is a large but sparse net-like structure holding the small dipoles which convert the microwave energy into electricity.
It is typically several kilometres in diameter, though the area is just 8% of a wind farm delivering equivalent energy output, and could be sited offshore adjacent to wind farms.
CASSIOPeiA – the market leading Solar Power Satellite design
Of the Solar Power Satellite concepts which can deliver 24/7 baseload power, the most capable is CASSIOPeiA. Conceived by the UK company IECL it has patented design features which offer strong economic and operational benefits, with a best-in-class specific power predicted to be 1 kW/kg.
This results in a low Levelised Cost of Electricity competitive with intermittent terrestrial renewables.
Space Solar Takes Major Step Forward with its CASSIOPeiA Concept, 2023-02-07
- The UK’s leading space-based solar power (SBSP) company, Space Solar, today announces the results of a detailed engineering design and analysis study which confirms the performance characteristics for its CASSIOPeiA Solar Power Satellite concept. The results are further supported by Space Solar’s ongoing wireless power beaming hardware test programme.
- The study, delivered in partnership with Frazer-Nash Consultancy, has further advanced Space Solar’s design, looking in detail at both ground and spacecraft systems.
- The CASSIOPeiA Solar Power Satellite design has already been shown to have strong differentiators compared with other concepts for SBSP, delivering continuous power, highly competitive economics and with the ability to operate in a range of different orbits to deliver affordable energy into global markets.
- This study has established the baseline design in critical areas of structure, thermal management, attitude and orbit control, photovoltaics and light path, with the performance and mass targets met.
- Initial findings from the company’s HARRIER wireless power transmission demonstrator have also fed into the study, and helped to optimise the design. Priority areas for development in the next stage are now confirmed.
Status Comment / Notes
Planning a major demonstration of Megawatt scale power beamed from space by 2029.
News, Research, Projects and Patents
| Title | Type | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia’s NEOM plans solar power station in space | News | 2023-01-19 |
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