How Europe could achieve net-zero with solar panels in space

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Independent or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Europe could meet up to 80% of its renewable energy needs by 2050 using solar panels positioned in space, according to new research from King’s College London
• The study, published in Joule, suggests that space-based solar power (SBSP) could also reduce total grid system costs by 7–15% and significantly decrease reliance on batteries and terrestrial renewables — if key technologies advance rapidly

🔭 The context: The concept of SBSP dates back to the 1960s but has only recently become technically plausible due to breakthroughs in satellite energy transmission and orbital panel design, particularly via NASA’s heliostat architecture
• Countries including China, Japan, the US, and the UK are actively exploring the potential of SBSP to provide a continuous, weather-independent source of clean power by transmitting solar energy from space to Earth via microwaves

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Space-based solar could overcome key limitations of ground-based renewables, such as intermittency and land use, while drastically cutting storage requirements
• By maintaining near-constant exposure to solar radiation, orbital panels promise a more stable and abundant energy supply
• However, the approach faces substantial engineering, cost, and safety hurdles before it can scale — and remains highly speculative despite growing international interest

⏭️ What's next: The technology’s feasibility hinges on advancing microwave energy transmission, lightweight solar materials, and space launch economics
• Policymakers will need to consider the regulatory and geopolitical implications of orbital energy infrastructure
• The EU and ESA may explore pilot projects over the next decade, with potential deployment timelines extending into the 2040s and 2050s

💬 One quote: “In space, you potentially have the ability to position solar panels to always face the sun, which means power generation can be nearly continuous compared to the daily pattern on Earth,” — Wei He, King’s College London

📈 One stat: The study found SBSP could reduce battery usage by over 70% in European energy systems compared to scenarios without it

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