Space Based Solar Power

Global Risks and Potential Rewards

Risk. Global energy usage is rising fast. There is now a huge need for a clean "base-load" electiricty supply which can be relied upon 24/7, 365. Although there is increased investment in alternative energy sources, current methods and technologies (i.e. wind, ground based solar, etc.) as vital as they are, only produce "supplemental" power. The only other non-carbon "base-load" option is nuclear energy.

But the threat of an energy shortage goes far beyond rising energy prices.

Many 20th-century wars were motivated, in part, by the need to secure future energy supplies. The US Pentagon now calculates the largest risk of future wars will be caused by energy scarcity. See the paper 'War Without Oil'

Reward. One of the key benefits of SBSP is the ability to send clean energy, on demand, to virtually anywhere on Earth. No other form of energy production has this capability and this makes SBSP an ideal complement to the current global energy market. This level of technology could enable rural electrification of remote villages and regions providing clean running water, refrigeration of crops and medicines, power for schools and hospitals and a huge overall increase in the standard of living.

No surprise that several governments now recognize SBSP as a viable solution and are waiting for a commercial provider.