Space solar power (SSP) proposes to launch a device into space that collects solar power and beams it down to Earth at radio frequencies. It was proposed decades ago as an alternative power source to meet the need for clean, reliable, and dispatchable energy. However, earlier SSP proposals have faced significant technical or economic challenges.
A step by step diagram on space based solar power. Space-based solar power (SBSP or SSP) is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space with solar power satellites (SPS) and distributing it to Earth.
Each SBSP design is normalized to deliver 2 gigawatts (GW) of power to the electric grid to be comparable to very large terrestrial solar power plants operating today.3 Therefore, five RD2 systems are needed to deliver roughly the same amount of power as one RD1 system.
The RD1 solar panel area is more than 3,000 times and 27 times greater than that of the ISS and Starlink constellation, respectively. The mass is 5.9Mkg for RD1 and 10Mkg for RD2. The RD1 John C. Mankins “SPS-Alpha Mark-III and an Achievable Roadmap to Space Solar Power,” 72nd International Astronautical Congress, October 15, 2021.
The project will build solar plants near Bissau and install mini-grids on the Bijagós islands, thereby providing electricity to 1,200 households and SMEs. The World Bank has announced substantial financial support for Guinea-Bissau's innovative solar power project aimed at reducing carbon emissions and increasing electricity access.
The World Bank, IDA, ESMAP, and GCF are funding Guinea-Bissau's first solar power plants with a $78.15 million investment to support decarbonization and expand electricity access. The project will build solar plants near Bissau and install mini-grids on the Bijagós islands, thereby providing electricity to 1,200 households and SMEs.
Currently, only 33% of Guinea-Bissau's population has access to electricity, with the capital city of Bissau facing particularly high costs. The Solar Energy Scale-up and Access Project is expected to benefit residential, commercial, and industrial consumers nationwide — including those on the islands.
The Solar Energy Scale-up and Access Project is expected to benefit residential, commercial, and industrial consumers nationwide — including those on the islands. It aligns with the government's strategy to encourage private sector participation, stimulate economic growth, and create sustainable job opportunities.
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