Power from Orbit Challenge
Generating solar power in space and beaming it down to earth
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Imagine a world in which plentiful, reliable, affordable and clean electricity is safely beamed down from space
Satellite
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The problem
Why a challenge prize
To limit global warming we need to decarbonise electricity production, phasing out fossil fuels by 6% every year between 2020 and 2030.21 We also need to generate more electricity than we ever have before. Renewable energy is key to solving this, but wind and solar power are intermittent sources – they don’t generate electricity when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine. But there is a place devoid of clouds, and where the sun shines virtually 24 hours a day.
Over the next decade, we need to bridge an investment gap of $4 trillion into clean energy to reach net zero.22 Space-based solar power technology needs government backing to give it credibility and crowd in public funding. Challenges have a proven track record of incentivising innovation and setting an ambitious shared mission. The DARPA Grand Challenges23 did this for autonomous vehicles in the early 2000s – a challenge prize could do the same for this exciting new energy frontier.
Orbital deployment and assembly
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Microwave power transmission
£20M to the first team that generates electric power in orbit and safely beams it down to earth The Power from Orbit Challenge will drive forward the technology needed to harness solar energy in space – high above the clouds, and outside of the cycle of night and day we have on earth. The space sector is excited by the opportunity, but needs investment and government support to commit. The challenge will stimulate this nascent market and incentivise innovators to come together and experiment. Achieving its ambitious goal will require an interdisciplinary approach to R&D and bold demonstrations of achieving
At-scale tech demonstration
Stratospheric tests
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milestones on the way to orbit. It will require advances in power beaming technology and spacecraft design as well as new capabilities in constructing, servicing and maintaining in-orbit facilities. And it requires the launch of the biggest satellites – by far – in history. While smaller awards will be offered along the way for developing key enabling technologies, major funding will be funnelled to the most promising ideas that bring us closer to the goal of beaming power from orbit.
Launch
1 Antenna array Lab based R&D
INDICATIVE TIMELINE Month 1
Month 12
Open call - Innovator outreach
Developing proof of concept
Month 36
- Consortia form
- Lab based R D
- Regulatory and investment support
- Semi-finalists selected
- Grant funding
- Grant funding
Technology development
- Stratospheric demos
21. SEI, IISD, ODI, E3G, and UNEP, The Production Gap Report 2021 (2021). 22. IEA, World Energy Outlook 2021 (2021). 23. https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/-grand-challenge-for-autonomous-vehicles
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Climate Possible: How funders can accelerate innovation for a resilient future
- Finalists selected
Month 60
Month 72
Technology demonstration
Selection of winners - 20M for a team that successfully generates power in orbit and beams it down to earth
- Grant funding - Support with launch services - Launch and orbital demos