I think your assumptions are optimistic

Space/Science » in reply to solar power satellites: Still a totally worthless idea.

Dave M — 7/9/2004 9:36:29 PM (archived)

I don't think you can find a PV cell that will give you 50% efficiency in space.

Microwaves from GEO is a nonstarter. You would need to use lasers. While converting back from laser energy to electricity is more efficient (>80%), going from electric to laser energy is very inefficient.

I don't think your system efficiency could be better than a few percent.

Even companies that propose such systems advertise cost in the range of hundreds of dollars per kW-h.

Dave M

The whole thread (23 posts)

Update on flexible solar cells - Tom Brosz - 7/7/2004 8:27:57 AM
- The efficiency is the most important figure, more important even than cost. - David F Mayer - 7/7/2004 5:37:35 PM
  - solar power satellites - Arthur Smith - 7/8/2004 9:22:18 PM
    - solar power satellites: Still a totally worthless idea. - David F Mayer - 7/9/2004 7:40:48 PM
      - your analysis is flawed... - Adam - 7/14/2004 12:11:07 AM
        
        Geosynch has some real advantages over a LaGrange point for SPS - Larry J - 7/14/2004 3:50:17 AM
      - Some comments - Larry J - 7/12/2004 2:19:45 PM
      - I have a lot of confidence in human ingenuity. - Tom Brosz - 7/10/2004 4:00:26 AM
        
        In real dollars, launch costs have NOT declined in 30 years. - David F Mayer - 7/12/2004 9:23:08 AM
      - I think your assumptions are optimistic - Dave M - 7/9/2004 9:36:29 PM
        
        Surely you are right. Solar Power Satellite is a VERY BAD IDEA. (n/t) - David F Mayer - 7/12/2004 9:20:44 AM
  - No need for storage - Art Martin - 7/8/2004 4:34:36 PM
    - Art is right. - Tom Brosz - 7/9/2004 7:08:07 AM
      - Wouldn't DC (direct current) applications work better with PV Cells? - Scott Evil - 7/9/2004 5:57:45 PM
        
        re: Wouldn't DC (direct current) applications work better with PV Cells? - Art Martin - 7/12/2004 11:52:49 PM
        
        The biggest reason why alternating current is used so much... - Larry J - 7/9/2004 6:40:35 PM
  - re: The efficiency is the most important figure, more important even than cost. - Adam - 7/8/2004 12:24:25 AM
- I'm glad you brought up this topic. - Jacob Samorodin - 7/7/2004 5:09:01 PM
- re: Update on flexible solar cells - Larry J - 7/7/2004 2:04:57 PM
  - re: Update on flexible solar cells - Tom Brosz - 7/7/2004 4:23:23 PM
    - I have one - Delbert - 7/8/2004 12:15:28 AM
      - re: I have one - Larry J - 7/8/2004 3:21:33 AM
- Hope these work! (n/t) - Bowser - 7/7/2004 1:24:09 PM

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The whole thread (23 posts)