Space-Based Solar Power

Space-based solar power (SBSP) is the concept of collecting solar energy in Earth orbit using large photovoltaic or solar concentrating arrays aboard spacecraft, converting that energy into electromagnetic radiation — typically microwave or laser — and transmitting it wirelessly to Earth-based receiving stations. At the receiving station, the electromagnetic energy is reconverted into electricity and delivered to the grid. Unlike terrestrial solar installations, an orbital system would operate above Earth's atmosphere, receiving solar irradiance continuously and without weather interference. The concept was formally proposed by aerospace engineer Peter Glaser in 1968. SBSP has been studied by NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy, ESA, JAXA, and academic institutions for decades. As of 2026, no full-scale SBSP system has been deployed commercially. The concept remains at varying technology readiness levels across its component subsystems.