Area solar energy examine outlines potential position in Europes clear vitality future
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Aug 22, 2025
Area-based solar energy may considerably reshape Europe’s vitality system by 2050, in line with new analysis within the journal Joule. The examine estimates the know-how may scale back Europe’s reliance on Earth-based wind and photo voltaic technology by as much as 80% whereas decreasing general grid prices by 7% to fifteen%.
Researchers modeled the European vitality system in 2050 utilizing two NASA-developed designs for orbital photo voltaic arrays: the Revolutionary Heliostat Swarm and the Mature Planar Array. The heliostat design, although much less mature, demonstrated larger efficiency and the potential to outperform terrestrial renewables, whereas the planar array was nearer to deployment readiness however much less value efficient.
“In area, you doubtlessly have the flexibility to place photo voltaic panels to all the time face the solar, which implies energy technology might be practically steady in comparison with the each day sample on Earth,” stated senior creator Wei He of King’s School London. He emphasised that orbital panels would additionally profit from stronger photo voltaic radiation than ground-based methods.
Area-based solar energy would function by orbiting panels beaming harvested vitality down as microwaves to Earth receiving stations, the place it will be transformed to electrical energy and built-in into present infrastructure. Whereas the heliostat design confirmed the best promise, the planar design may nonetheless present vital demonstration alternatives on shorter timescales.
Modeling urged that heliostat-based methods may minimize reliance on wind and photo voltaic by as much as 80%, scale back battery utilization by greater than 70%, and decrease prices considerably if growth targets are met. Nonetheless, to develop into value aggressive, annual system prices should fall to about 14 instances these of Earth-based photo voltaic for the heliostat design, and 9 instances for the planar array. At present, prices stay one to 2 orders of magnitude larger.
The researchers argue that coordinated growth of each designs would maximize progress, with near-term demonstration utilizing planar arrays supporting long-term deployment of heliostat methods. Key challenges forward embrace large-scale wi-fi energy transmission assessments, in-orbit robotic meeting, and addressing dangers resembling orbital particles and system degradation.
“That is the primary paper to place space-based solar energy into the vitality system transition framework,” He famous. “We’re at present at a stage to switch this blue-sky thought into testing at a big scale, and to start discussing regulation and policymaking.”
Analysis Report:Assess space-based solar power for European-scale power system decarbonization
Associated Hyperlinks
King’s College London
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
Trending Merchandise
