Review: Solar Power Satellites

by Paul Jaffe
Monday, July 9, 2012

Solar Power Satellites
by Don Flournoy
Springer, 2012
softcover, 118pp., illus.
ISBN 978-1-4614-1999-0
US$49.95

Solar Power Satellites is essential reading for anyone with an interest in solar power satellites, especially those new to the topic. These satellites, if developed, could provide a critical and environmentally friendly source of power for the Earth by collecting intense, incessant solar energy in space and beaming it continuously to the ground. Flournoy effectively outlines the elements and theory of operation of such a system and gives an outstanding historical context of efforts to study and develop the requisite technologies. He addresses, lucidly and in depth, common concerns and frequently asked questions concerning safety and practicality. His writing is both meticulously researched and easily accessible to the layperson. From the enormous mass of previous work on this subject, Flournoy covers a broad swath while providing the reader with pointers to further information. Nearly every significant previously undertaken study of solar power satellites is touched upon. That he is able to condense the essence of this vast field into about 100 succinct pages is impressive in itself.

The book is not perfect, though. Perhaps one shortfall of the book is Flournoy’s frequent citation of authority figures to make various points. Space industry veterans and university professors are generally qualified experts, but reliance on their viewpoints is not a substitute for quantitative or critical analysis. In addition, the chapter regarding economic analysis is fairly cursory and does not sport the extensive collection of relevant references featured at the end of most other chapters. Likewise, the military and niche power markets are discussed only briefly, despite their offering more promise as a source of demand for higher cost power than in the utility grid case. In general, for the examination of the hurdles and problems for space solar power, the case of photovoltaic power generation and microwave power beaming is assumed, though laser power beaming does receive some attention. Although there are several thoughtful skeptical analyses of the space solar power concept, they are left largely ignored.

A particular strength of the book is the treatment of the state of existing international efforts. In providing a window into the work of the Chinese and others on solar power satellites, Flournoy offers a glimpse not only of the scale and seriousness with which major space powers are examining the topic, but also of the secondary and tertiary social and economic benefits of pursuing the development of a space-based solar power system.

Overall, there likely does not currently exist a more comprehensive, concise, and readable introduction and summary of the solar power satellite concept, its challenges, prospects, and history. Flournoy’s book is most welcome and constitutes an excellent and cogent primer for the fascinating and wide-ranging subject of solar power satellites.

Paul Jaffe is an engineer and researcher at the US Naval Research Laboratory, where he has developed electronics for space missions for over 15 years. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the University of Maryland. Views expressed in this article are those of the author alone, and do not represent the official positions of any organization.

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