Comment by Inès Tunga, Practice Manager – Renewables, at Energy Systems Catapult.

Energy beamed from space – a radical idea that sounds like the stuff of science fiction. And yet, the idea is gaining traction. Space-based solar power (SBSP – not to be confused with SpongeBob SquarePants) offers a promising new frontier that could reshape how we think powering our towns and cities. By gathering solar power in space and transmitting it to Earth, SBSP could provide the UK with a reliable source of renewable energy, transforming our future energy systems.

What is SBSP?

For a technology that is out of this world, it is – in theory – quite simple. SBSP involves putting huge solar collectors in space to capture the Sun’s energy without the interference of Earth’s atmosphere, weather, and even the day-night cycle. Once that energy has been collected, it is wirelessly transmitted to Earth by lasers or microwaves, where it’s converted into electricity and fed into the energy grid.

Making SBSP an attractive option is that it’s not weather-dependent or limited by daylight hours. Imagine, round-the-clock electricity, 24/7, regardless of conditions on the ground. This is ‘innovation’ at its most exciting.

This technology could help us solve some of the biggest challenges we face on the road to Net Zero, from grid instability to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels – SBSP affords us an opportunity to harness an abundant energy source in pursuit of a cleaner, greener future.

What role can the UK play?

The UK has a proud history of innovating beyond our atmosphere (I’m looking at you, Satellite Applications Catapult). SBSP is no different. This is a technology that we can pioneer. With a commitment from government to help grow the SBSP ecosystem of private companies, academic institutions, and international partnerships, we can lay the groundwork for a space-based energy future.

This is not a pipedream. This is a reality that we are watching unfold. CASSIOPeiA – which stands for Constant Aperture, Solid-State, Integrated, Orbital Phased Array – is a UK-led initiative that aims to “provide gigawatt-scale renewable energy delivered direct to the point of need.” The CASSIOPeiA design features two 1.7km diameter solar collectors capable of delivering 2GW to the grid via a 5km diameter rectenna ground station. This could contribute significantly to the UK’s energy mix, helping to meet our sustainability targets whilst delivering a stable and secure supply.

Who benefits from SBSP?

Consumers and businesses alike are set to benefit from the introduction of SBSP. Consumers could see energy bills fall as SBSP continues to provide an abundant, continuous source of power. Whilst we could witness a rapid expansion of innovation and growth in the UK’s space and renewable energy sectors. As a leading authority on solar technology, we could export our skills and expertise to help others achieve a Net Zero future from the stars.

Realising SBSP’s potential

While the benefits of SBSP are clear, hurdles remain. The technology is in the early stages of development. It isn’t mass-market or widely available. We need to overcome serious economic, technical, and regulatory challenges before we’re firing satellites into space on a commercially viable basis. How we efficiently transmit energy wirelessly will require further research, whilst the satellites themselves will need to be able to withstand the harsh environment of space. And who funds this work? Will we look to private companies to finance this innovation – in much the same way NASA now collaborates with Space X and Blue Origin or will the public foot the bill?

These technical questions will all need to be answered in parallel to the questions we must ask about the regulatory environment. The Outer Space Treaty (1967) is the primary legal framework that governs the activities of governments and non-governmental entities – it covers liability, cooperation, and disturbances in space, but does this go far enough? The sheer size, scale, and complexity of SBSP projects make them ripe for regulatory disputes.

But, with continued investment and the pioneering efforts of bold innovators – large and small – we can pilot further projects in a bid to overcome these challenges. Remember, there was a time when solar panels on our homes were just a vision. This is no different.

The UK has already taken the first steps on the SBSP journey, now its time to really ignite the fuse. And that is where the Catapult is uniquely positioned to help those innovators looking skywards for the future of the energy system. Across three core areas, technology development and demonstration, policy and regulatory support, and market development and commercialisation, our ‘whole systems’ approach to energy innovation joins the dots and ensures that we’re always thinking about the role of SBSP in the broader scheme of the energy transition.

Look up

The late Stephen Hawking once reminded us to “look up at the stars, not down at your feet.” Perhaps the future of our energy system rests not on our rooftops or in our seas, but beyond our atmosphere. While challenges remain – technical, regulatory, and economic – the benefits of SBSP are clear. With continued investment, collaboration between government and private sectors, and bold innovation, the UK can pioneer this new energy frontier and secure a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come. The stars, it seems, hold more than just light; they hold the power to reshape our world.