a fundable demonstration platform delivering electricity to earth via solar powered lasers in space...

A Fundable Demonstration Platform Delivering

Electricity to Earth Via Solar Powered Lasers in

Space 

Eric Hoffert and Marty HoffertVersatility Energy

Contacts: eric@versatility-inc.com,marty.hoffert@nyu.edu

The Potential of SSP• Space Solar Power (SSP) could Produce 20 Terawatts (e)

– Capacity to meet emission free needs for baseload power

• A 3 square kilometer array could produce ~ 1 Gigawatt– 1400 watts per square meter, 25% end-to-end efficiency– Effective 350 watts per square meter * 3 km^2 = 1 Gigawatt– 20 Terawatts (e) = ~60,000+ square kilometers of arrays in GEO

• Variables– Production scale+launch cost, meteorites, PV efficiency, orbit

slots– Nanomaterials for dramatic weight reduction of infrastructure– Price may range from 1 to 10 cents per kilowatt-hour or more

• An Engineering Project of Unprecedented Scale and Cost• Q: How are Critical Technologies Matured to Achieve This

Challenges• Minimal Development Progress for SSP in Forty Years

– From concept in 1968 to advanced concept in 2008

• Demonstration Status– Minimal Demonstrations of WPT (best: 30kW over 1.5km in

1975)– No Demonstrations of SSP

• Cost and Complexity of SSP Considered Prohibitive• Annual Global Funding Levels ~ $5M to $25M at best• Very Small Research Community• Minor Progress vs. Solar, Wind, Hydrogen, Fusion etc.

– Case in point – Ballard Power / Fuel cells evolution since Glaser

• Public Perception – “Science Fiction”• Lack of Confidence from Potential Investors

Principles of SSP Evolution• Demonstrate Critical Technologies

– Provide credibility and increase confidence for potential stakeholders– Provide greater visibility for WPT and SSP

• Increment Efficiency Over Time– Historically, the energy efficiency of a given class of energy

converters starts at a few percent and grows over time as the technology is refined

– Prototype often, “Fail Fast”, iterate rapidly towards operational status

• Generate Revenue as you Go– Explore paths to generate revenue as SSP infrastructure evolves – Target premium pricing of $1 - $10 per kw-hour for niche applications

• Target Niche, Specialized Energy Markets– Peak power in high use markets, remote islands or mountainous areas– Defense power for remote and dangerous areas– Satellite station-keeping, space based power-plug;

• Reference: Journal of Space Power Vol. 1, No. 1

Technology Demonstrations• Set Achievable Targets to Demonstrate Feasibility

– Power Levels (1 kw to 100 kw transmission)– Demonstration Cost ($1M to $100M+)– Transmission Distance (tens to hundreds of kilometers)– Near Term Timeframes (1 to 5 years)

• A Focus on Fundable SSP Platforms– A focus on laser SSP to reduce cost and complexity– Lasers dramatically reduce system size compared to

microwaves– Orders of magnitude cost reduction to “first power”

The Big Picture• Energy Independence and Energy Affordability

– Massively scalable clean power sources must be developed– Clean energy must be affordable on a broad consumer basis

• “Clean Vehicles” and “Clean Buildings” Need Clean Power– Electricity is needed from clean sources rather than coal– Hybrid plug-ins, electric vehicle infrastructure, homes/buildings

• Clean Power Needed to Stabilize Climate Change– Global warming needs to be addressed

• Practical Path to Operational Business is Essential– Path needed: concept->demo->commercial power

Hybrid Plug-In Cars Need Clean Power…

Hybrid Cars to Market: Hybrid Prius Plug-In (2010)

Electric Cars Need Clean Power…

Electric Cars to Market: Tesla Motors (2008), Apterra. Chevy Volt (2010)

Electric Car Platforms Need Clean Power

Project Better Place: A scalable infrastructure for electric vehicle re-charging and hot-swap battery exchange stations,

with goals for power delivery from renewable sources

Homes & Businesses Need Clean Power

The Solution: SSP via Laser Three Phase SSP

Plan:

1) Fundable Demonstrations

2) Niche “Premium Power” Applications

3) Baseload Power

Laser transmission allows for practical sizing of components in space and on the earth

The Logic for Lasers, Part I

The Logic for Lasers, Part II

Laser Concepts, Part I

Laser Concepts, Part II

SSP Demonstration Platform:Prometheus 1

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire and light from Zeus and gave it to mortals for their use

The Math PV, space

– (PV DC power output)/(solar photon power incident) 10%

laser– (laser coherent photon power out)/(space PV power in)

10%

trans– (laser photon power captured at surface)/(laser

coherent photon power transmitted) 80%

PV, surface– (DC power to grid or direct consumers)/(laser photon

power captured at surface) 80% (PV arrays tuned to bandgap) Laser efficiencies have been stated at 20%, resulting in 140

kWePV efficiencies have been stated at 20%, resulting in 280 kWe

The Components

• Low Cost Launch– Launch options from China, Russia, USA, etc.

• Space Components– Inflatable Rigidizable Structures– Ultralight PV Arrays– High Energy Lasers– Balance of System

• PV Receivers– Tuned to laser bandgap

• Local Transmission– Infrastructure to deliver the power

Low Cost Launch

Falcon 9 – starts @ $35 million; able to boost 9,900 kg to LEO, 4,900 kg to GTO, minimum GTO cost per kg is $10,500 (USA, 2008)

Falcon 9 Heavy – starts @ $78 million cost; able to boost 27,500 kg to LEO, 12,000 kg to GTO, minimum GTO cost per kg $8,200 (USA, 2008))

Proton - $85 million cost; 4,600 kg to GTO, cost per kg is $18,350 (Russia, 2000)

Long March - $60 million cost; 5,200 kg to GTO, cost per kg is $11,500 (China, 2000)

Inflatable Solar ArraysOrthogonally folded struts and panels to help minimize deployment envelope

Minimalist structure to keep weight low

Example: inflatable solar sail package

Ultra-light Photovoltaic Arrays

ESA-DLR ultra-light 20-meter space-qualified thin film PV array with supporting booms, with 400 m2 of CP1/a-Si:H thin film cells of mass 32 kg providing 50 kW of solar power deployable from the small “suitcase” at center High specific power:1 to 5 kWe/kg thin-film PV arrays; P/M ~1.6 shown here

The record for amorphous silicon on 6 m CP1 films is ~ 4 kWe/kg

High Energy Lasers32 gain modules operating at 3.9 kW each = 124.8 kW of power;

20% efficiency in the lab, anticipated to rise to 50%

Joint High Power Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) Phase 3 program: Producing a 100 kW solid state laser system in a $50M R&D program at Northrop Grumman

Received power density is only 100 watts per square meter

The Payload• Ultralight PV Arrays

– 10% efficient array, 100 m diameter, area 7800 m^2, GEO

– GEO input 1.4 w/m^2 ~ 1000 kWe (1 MWe) with (P/M) – PV ~ 2 kWe/kg w/ support structure would mass out to

500 kg

• High Energy Lasers– 200 kg for the laser

• Balance of System– 300 kg for “balance-of-system” (power conditioning,

attitude controls, telemetry, etc.)

• Total Weight and Cost– 1,000 kg weight * $15,000/kg = $15 Million

More Demos (Space to Earth)

• International Space Station (ISS)

• Laser power beaming at kilowatt levels

• Compact Transmitter mechanism, thin power beam, simple PV receiver

• Space to Earth power beaming demos

• Transmit power using retrofit or existing satellites or space structures

Global Power Beaming Demonstrations

• First ever international power beaming demo on a global scale

• Provide power to developing nations

• Received power of 10 kw to 100 kw for remote small homes, villages

• Develop consortium of public and private / corporate funding

• Media participation• Integrated local

storage

The Applications• Classes of “Premium Power’ Niche Applications

– $1 to $10+ per Kilowatt hour with specialized requirements• Travel and Leisure

– Power delivered to remote islands, luxury hotels, mountain areas

• Defense– Power delivered to dangerous or remote military areas

• Media and Entertainment– Power delivered to extend lifecycle of broadcast TV satellites

• Commercial Peak Markets– Rotating peak power markets for power delivery

• Clean Water– Powering desalinization plants (i.e., India, Israel, Aruba)

• Scientific– Power delivered to remote laboratories and science stations

Next Steps• Phased Approach: SSP Demos, Niche Apps, Baseload

– Phased Technology Demonstration, Funding, and R&D Model

• Identify and Secure Funding– Individuals -> strategic partners -> government -> venture

capital -> public markets

• Demonstrate Viability to the Public, Media, Policy Makers– Increased Investment, Activity, Community Participation

• Integrate with Synergistic Space and Energy Projects– Low cost Launch Vehicles, Terrestrial solar

• Focus on Pathway to Commercial Power Generation– Start with Premium Power and Niche Applications– Expand to Baseload Power

Solar Power to the People…