TED Space Energy Presentation - Peter Sage - part 1 of 2

Peter Sage of Space Energy Inc. gives a fascinating and inspiring talk on Space Based Solar Power which shows why harvesting solar energy in space and wirelessly transmitting it back to earth will soon become the energy source of the very near future. More info at www.SpaceEnergy.com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Space Based Solar Power
• SBSP
• Peter Sage
• Space Energy
• Solar Power
• Renewable
• Energy
• Space
• Solar
• Power
• SSP
• Climate
• Change
• Future

[spaceenergysbsp]

Thanks for your comment Z0rr0rr0r, as per the presentation, costings for a 1GW system are currently approx. $16B making it on a par with Nuclear when full costs accounting is used. One must also remember that for the last 50 years we have been sending up satellites into space, powered by solar panels that broadcast radio waves to earth. Nothing queer about that.

[23104565]

I do not understand how it could be 24/7. As the earth turns won't there be any time that the earth is blocking it causing down time?

[spaceenergysbsp]

Thank you for your question. The answer is no, as the satellite is in a Geo-Synchronous orbit, it remains outside of the Earth's shadow and therefore in constant sunlight. The only time it will be in shadow is for a few minutes a year during the summer and winter equinox. This equates to less down-time than a traditional plant on the ground with regards to maintenance etc.

[rkg62976]

SBSP...sounds excellent.. Even well respected geo-political analysts mention this innovative idea.

Of course, the fact that petroleum is still the most diverse natural resource on the planet, will slow down the utilization of SBSP.

Not only this, but the planet's petroleum must be used up before SBSP can be implemented. In other words, the U.S (and U.K.) are not going to embrace this technology until they know they can control it, and every other country's use of it..

($ and Power).

[josh1492]

I dont buy that we cant develop and implement this in an effective way if we actually put a real effort into it.

[z0rr0rr0r]

How much does it cost to send in space a 1GW system? It seems to me a quite queer idea to launch satellites with solar panels in space.

[revolt81]

@PerivaleBuses i agree, but i also see the current nature of man, and the only way anything ever gets done is if someone can make money off it

[spboike]

We've proven this back at the end of the Reagan Days and proposed the whole system in the 80's @ GDSS (San Diego) then transmit it down to our superconductive energy storage rings for output. Boeing now has the most efficient methods to do this NOW.

[PerivaleBuses]

I believe that he should not have the right to sell the energy of the Sun to us, the Sun belongs to all of us, why not sell the sea salt water?

The Zeitgeist Movement and the Venus Project.

[moonus111]

Oh come on this is the only plan to save the planet, and nobody is watching it or even commenting?!?

[23104565]

How maintenances actually be done? Also is space junk going to be a big concern in damaging the satellite?