The UK Government has announced it will fund £4.3m to advance the country’s space-based solar power capabilities.
The investment will support eight UK projects developing cutting-edge space-based solar power technologies. Such innovations will help reinforce the UK’s energy security and broaden its clean energy portfolio.
Space-based solar power collects energy from the Sun using solar panels located on satellites. The energy is then transported back down to Earth via wireless technology, providing an endless supply of clean energy.
Announced today by UK Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps at London Tech Week, the £4.3m funding includes £3.3m from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and £1m from the UK Space Agency.
Commenting on the development, Shapps said: “I want the UK to boldly go where no country has gone before – boosting our energy security by getting our power directly from space.
“We’re taking a giant leap by backing the development of this exciting technology and putting the UK at the forefront of this rapidly emerging industry as it prepares for launch.
“By winning this new space race, we can transform the way we power our nation and provide cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy for generations to come.”
Which projects have been selected?
The eight projects awarded funding from the Space Based Solar Power Innovation Competition, part of the £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, include:
- University of Cambridge: Will receive over £770,000 to develop ultra-lightweight solar panels that can survive long periods in high-radiation environments like the conditions in space;
- Queen Mary University: Awarded more than £960,000 to develop a wireless power transmission system with high efficiency over long ranges to beam solar power from the satellites back to Earth;
- MicroLink Devices UK Ltd: Awarded over £449,000 to develop the next generation of lightweight, flexible solar panels for the satellites;
- University of Bristol: Granted over £353,000 to develop a simulation of solar space wireless power transfer capabilities. This will provide evidence of the performance, safety, and reliability of space-based solar power;
- Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd: Funded over £999,000 to test the electronic steering and beam quality of its space satellite antenna technology. They have also been awarded a further £424,000 to study how to advance commercial space-based solar power to yield a reliable UK electricity source;
- Imperial College London: £295,000 to assess the benefits and impacts of space solar, such as how solar energy from space could be integrated into the electricity grid with other clean energy sources; and
- EDF Energy R&D UK Centre Ltd: Awarded over £25,000 to investigate the value of introducing space-based solar power into the UK’s grid.
How will space-based solar power benefit the UK?
The UK is already a leader on the global stage in renewable energy technologies and is currently the fourth-largest wind farm installer. Moreover, more than 99% of the UK’s solar power capacity has been installed since 2010, powering over four million homes.
Now, the UK is shooting for the stars to expand its renewables arsenal with space-based solar power. Other countries are also exploring this interstellar energy alternative, including Japan and the US.
Recently, the California Institute of Technology claimed to have achieved the first-ever successful transmission of solar power to Earth from space.
But what are the potential benefits for the UK?
Well, unlike other renewable sources that are intermittent, such as wind and regular solar, space-based solar power generates energy all year round as the Sun is visible 99% of the time.
A recent study found that space-based solar power could generate up to 10GW of electricity a year – around 25% of the UK’s energy needs by 2050.
This multi-billion pound industry would also support around 143,000 UK jobs, providing a significant boost to the nation’s economy.
