Space Based Solar Power

A Pentagon study group looking at global security issues through this century is moving towards recommending space based solar power as a way to skirt wars over energy resources.

The group acknowledges the technology needed is not in hand yet, but also says no technological or scientific showstoppers have yet been found.

Through this century, the human population is expected to grow substantially. At the same time, many poor, populous nations will be trying to grow their economies. That will put enormous strains on Earth's natural resources-- perhaps especially its energy resources. Shortages in critical resources could lead to wars in a world filled with very nasty weapons of mass destruction. Solar power is abundant and constant-- and, if properly developed, no group will be able to dominate its distribution. Such a reliable energy source would be a stabilizing influemce in an otherwise troubled world.

The study group estimates that 10 percent of the baseline energy used by the U. S. could be beamed down from solar power satellites by 2050, if not sooner, and that a demonstration of the concept could be carried out in five to seven years.