A Bold New Vision for Europe’s Energy Future
By 2050, Europe could meet the majority of its renewable energy needs from solar panels in space, according to a groundbreaking study from King’s College London. Researchers found that orbital solar technology designed by NASA could slash Europe’s reliance on land-based renewables by up to 80%.
How Space Solar Power Works
The system, known as Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP), uses mirror-like reflectors — called heliostats — to capture sunlight in orbit. That energy is then transmitted to Earth, where it is converted into electricity and delivered to the grid. Unlike traditional renewables, which depend on weather and daylight cycles, space solar panels can provide continuous gigawatt-scale power from above the atmosphere.
Potential Impact on Costs and Storage
The computer model tested across 33 European countries showed promising results. Integrating SBSP into Europe’s power grid could cut overall system costs by up to 15% and reduce battery storage needs by more than two-thirds. Researchers argue this makes the technology not only innovative, but also a potential game-changer in cost efficiency.
Challenges and Long-Term Outlook
Despite its promise, SBSP faces major hurdles. High costs of launching and maintaining orbital infrastructure mean the technology is unlikely to be viable before 2050. Other factors such as orbital congestion, energy transmission reliability, and potential variability in beaming energy to Earth were not accounted for in the model. Still, researchers say the study offers a glimpse of how space-based energy could transform Europe’s future energy landscape.
