Universities and companies developing space-based solar power are set to receive millions in government grants, as the UK bids to bolster energy security in creative new ways.
Cambridge University and EDF Energy will be among those awarded by the government to develop the tech which harvests the sun’s energy in space and then beams it wirelessly back to Earth.
“I want the UK to boldly go where no country has gone before - boosting our energy security by getting our power directly from space,” energy security secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement announcing the initiative.
Seven organisations will gain awards for eight projects from the £4.3mln fund, including:
- The University of Cambridge (£770,000) to develop lightweight satellites capable of withstanding high radiation
- Queen Mary University (£960,000) for a wireless power transmission system
- MicroLink Devices UK Ltd (£449,000) for new lightweight solar panels
- The University of Bristol (£353,000) to run simulations
- Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd (£999,000 and £424,000) to experiment on satellite antennas and study commercial space-based solar power
- Imperial College London (£295,000) to assess how the power could be added to the national grid
- EDF Energy R&D UK Centre Ltd (£25,000) to study the value of adding the power to the grid
According to the government, 10GW of space-based solar power could be produced by 2050, meeting a quarter of the UK’s demand.
Planting solar panels in space will offer a far more reliable stream of power, the government added, given the sun is visible 99% of the time.
“By winning this new space race, we can transform the way we power our nation and provide cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy,” Shapps added.