Energy from space
Green solar power for Earth, day and night
Our project objectives
The European Research Council SOLSPACE project is investigating the use of constellations of ultra-lightweight orbiting solar reflectors to illuminate large terrestrial solar power plants at night. The growing demand for global clean energy services, aligned with falling launch costs through reusability is bringing such concepts closer to reality. Our work includes analysis novel families of orbits for the reflectors, attitude control, scalable structural design and economic modelling.
Our project methodology
The programme of research is largely simulation based to understand the orbit and attitude dynamics of constellations of orbiting solar reflectors, for the analysis of reflector structures and for energy systems and economics modelling. Supporting work on experimental testing of scaled structural elements is being used to validate simulation results.
Our project achievements
A reference architecture has been defined to demonstrate the utilisation of orbiting solar reflectors to illuminate terrestrial solar power plants through a constellation in Sun-synchronous orbit. A much large future architecture constellation concept is under development to deliver utility-scale energy services.
Orbiting solar reflectors (Dr Andrea Viale, NASA Earth texture)
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Related links
This project contributes to the advancement of research culture and environment within the following areas:
Relevant publications
Our Researchers
- Dr Robert Gordon
- Dr Iain Moore
- Dr Litesh Sulbhewar
- Dr Vaibhav Anuse
- Dr Khaldon Qaid