Off-world Power Generation: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:04, 18 April 2021

Concept

Premise

Goal

Near-earth or Lagrange-point solar array about the size of Nebraska to power the globe.

Calculations:

Energy requirement of NYC: ~3000 trillion BTU in 2016 = 3000 trillion btu / 365 days = 3.4E+11 btu/hr = 1.0036680479e+11 watts = 100 GW
PV power stations collect more power than solar thermal power stations. They seem to average ~3 MW/km^2 (throwing out 2 ridiculous outliers).
Traditional single-junction cells have a maximum theoretical efficiency of 33.16% more. In reality it is around 18.7%.
A 65"x39" (1.64 m^2) solar panel made in 2018 produces ~320W.
About 48% of solar energy hitting the Earth reaches the surface. Perhaps optimistic, but we will divide by .48 to get energy-in-space vs on-earth.
Approximate energy absorbable by a solar panel in space: 320W / 1.64m^2 / .48% = 400W/m^2 in space
Approximate required size of a solar array "near Earth" (including l1) to power NYC: 100GW / 400W/m^s = 250 sq km
1 out of every 811 humans on earth live in NYC, so 250 sq km dish * 811 (assuming every human uses as much energy as a New Yorker) requires a solar array of only around 200,000 sq km - the size of Nebraska - to power the globe. A physicist confirms on the back of an envelope that the area needed will be "near-(UK)-country-sized".

Conclusion

Keep it as simple as possible, but no less.

We need to optimize free space power transmission in lab conditions using currently-available consumer electronics.
We need to create a solar panel array with robotics that can self-assemble.
We need robotics that can precisely and safely aim laser energy to a distant target using a real-time handshaking protocol.
We need to determine the cheapest possible way to launch a payload from Earth and navigate it to a final stable destination (lagrange or Earth orbit).
We need to determine the requirements to receive laser power at an Earth-based power plant.
We need to crowdfund the project.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Basic premise:
+=== Concept ===
+==== Premise ====
- <Earth> - <Earth-orbit satellite> - <Earth's moon> - <Earth-Sol Lagrange-point solar array>
+<Earth>   <-clearsky-burst-laser--   <satellite>
-* Earth-orbit satellite > Earth
+==== Goal ====
-Laser transmit antenna in space: 1 meter diameter per GW
-Receive: Several hundred meters across
+Near-earth or Lagrange-point solar array about the size of Nebraska to power the globe.
+Calculations:
+* Energy requirement of NYC: ~3000 trillion BTU in 2016 = 3000 trillion btu / 365 days = 3.4E+11 btu/hr = 1.0036680479e+11 watts = 100 GW
+* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_photovoltaic_power_stations PV power stations] collect more power than [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_thermal_power_stations solar thermal power stations].  They seem to average ~3 MW/km^2 (throwing out 2 ridiculous outliers).
+* Traditional single-junction cells have a maximum theoretical efficiency of 33.16% [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cell_efficiency more].  In reality it is around [https://www.solarpowerrocks.com/solar-basics/how-much-electricity-does-a-solar-panel-produce/#top10 18.7%].
+* A 65"x39" (1.64 m^2) solar panel made in 2018 [https://www.solarpowerrocks.com/solar-basics/how-much-electricity-does-a-solar-panel-produce/#top10 produces ~320W].
+* About 48% of solar energy hitting the Earth reaches the surface.  Perhaps optimistic, but we will divide by .48 to get energy-in-space vs on-earth.
+* Approximate energy absorbable by a solar panel in space: 320W / 1.64m^2 / .48% = 400W/m^2 in space
+* Approximate required size of a solar array "near Earth" (including l1) to power NYC: 100GW / 400W/m^s = 250 sq km
+* 1 out of every 811 humans on earth live in NYC, so 250 sq km dish * 811 (assuming every human uses as much energy as a New Yorker) requires a solar array of only around 200,000 sq km - the size of Nebraska - to power the globe.  A physicist confirms on the back of an envelope that the area needed [https://youtu.be/E0W1ZZYIV8o will be "near-(UK)-country-sized"].
+==== Conclusion ====
+Keep it as simple as possible, but no less.
+* We need to optimize free space power transmission in lab conditions using currently-available consumer electronics.
+* We need to create a solar panel array with robotics that can self-assemble.
+* We need robotics that can precisely and safely aim laser energy to a distant target using a real-time handshaking protocol.
+* We need to determine the cheapest possible way to launch a payload from Earth and navigate it to a final stable destination (lagrange or Earth orbit).
+* We need to determine the requirements to receive laser power at an Earth-based power plant.
+* We need to crowdfund the project.
+=== [[Off-world Power Generation Research|Research]] ===
+=== [[Off-world Power Generation Prototyping|Prototyping]] ===
+=== [[Off-world Power Generation Crowdfunding|Crowdfunding]] ===
+=== [[Off-world Power Generation Patrons|Patrons]] ===