Pentagon, US Air Force's Eisenhower Centre envision global energy security from space-based solar platforms

20 September 2007

The possibility of deploying space platforms that can capture sunlight and beam electrical power down to Earth is under review by the Pentagon, as a way to offer global energy and security benefits, including the prospect of short-circuiting future resource wars between increasingly energy-starved nations.

A mix of advocates, technologists and scientists, as well as legal and policy experts, discussed the concept at a symposium on 'Space-based solar power: Charting a course for sustainable energy, held at Breckenridge, Colorado, on 6 and 7 September. It was sponsored by the United States Air Force Academy's Eisenhower Centre for Space and Defence Studies, and the Pentagon's National Security Space Office.

The proposal being vetted by US military space strategists suggests that up to 10 per cent of US baseload energy requirements in 2050, perhaps even sooner, could be produced by space based solar power (SBSP). A demonstration of the concept is possible within the next five to seven years.

The US Department of Defence (DoD) has an urgent need for energy, say experts. They fear that major powers around the world - including the United States - could engage in a major war of attrition over energy resources later in the 21st century, unless the Earth as a whole attained energy security.

Many experts now believe that energy may be the first tangible commodity returned from space. They believe geopolitics is increasingly losing its importance as a large issue. It is energy and water that will be the key next issues that will be fought over.

But any proposed SBSP effort would be the largest space venture ever, making the Apollo Moon landing project look like little picnic. But the US DoD is severely cash-strapped and cannot become the financial backer for such an endeavour.