Off-world Power Generation

Concept

Premise

<Earth> <-clearsky-burst-laser-- <Earth-orbit satellite>

Goal

Near-Earth 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 the area needed will be "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.