How space exploration is impacting power generation on Earth

This year PEi covered a number of stories focused on space-related topics, as the mission to master outer space increasingly provides insights and tools to decarbonise power generation on Earth.

Take a look at the top three stories from 2024:

1 - How space data improves snow modelling for hydropower operations

The SnowPower initiative is pioneering the use of satellite data to provide the hydropower sector with accurate snow information, even in remote mountainous areas.

The SnowPower solution, which is being advanced by the German earth observation service company EOMAP, pairs existing localised snow information with satellite-based data to enable coverage of wide geographical areas in more detail and more efficiently and cost-effectively than traditional approaches.

2 - Solar power beaming from space – fact or fantasy?

While solar PV is routinely used to power satellites in space, the possibility of using satellites to redirect solar energy to the Earth to supplement local power demand has been gathering momentum, particularly in the last decade or so with the transition to renewables.

At the University of Glasgow, the ‘Solspace’ project has been underway since 2020 with a five-year European Research Council grant, investigating issues including satellite orbital dynamics and attitude control, solar reflector design and fabrication and the economic aspects.

In an April 2024 paper in the journal Acta Astronautica, the researchers present a proposal for a constellation of satellites with 1km diameter reflectors in low Earth orbit at about 1,000km, with the finding that five reflectors could extend operations at a solar power farm by about 35 minutes and 20 reflectors by over 1.5 hours.

Also of interest:
How space data is aiding tracking of steel sector decarbonisation
GB’s CASSIOPeiA space-based solar concept validated

3 - First space-based solar power targeted to Iceland by 2030

GB space-based solar power pioneer Space Solar and Iceland’s Transition Labs are partnering to deliver the first solar power from space to Reykjavik Energy by 2030.

The agreement between the two companies is significant as it marks out the location of the first space-based solar power receiving station but also ups the ambition for this solar power to become a reality.

Space Solar’s first plant, set to be operational by 2030, is planned to have an initial capacity of 30MW with the ability to supply consistent, dispatchable power around the clock, independent of weather conditions and hour of the day.