UK Government Explores Orbital Solar Power Stations for Net Zero Ambitions

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published a comprehensive study examining the viability of space-based solar power as a potential contributor to Britain’s 2050 net zero targets. The report, originally commissioned in 2021 by former Conservative business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, outlines a technological framework wherein orbiting satellites equipped with solar panels would capture solar energy and transmit it to ground-based receiving stations via microwave radiation.

The proposal represents one of the most ambitious clean energy strategies yet considered by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s department. According to the government study, space-based solar power systems could deliver constant, zero-carbon electricity at gigawatt scale, potentially displacing both intermittent renewable sources and fossil fuel generation.

The technical architecture involves satellites fitted with lightweight photovoltaic arrays that would generate electricity in orbit, convert the power to microwave radiation, and beam it to terrestrial rectifying antennas for conversion back into usable electricity. This configuration would circumvent the intermittency challenges inherent in ground-based solar installations, providing continuous power regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

Consultancy firm Frazer-Nash, which conducted the analysis, projects that whilst initial deployment costs would prove substantial, economies of scale could drive prices down significantly. The study estimates generation costs could reach between £87 and £129 per megawatt hour by 2040, positioning the technology competitively against projected nuclear costs of £150 per megawatt hour. Recent offshore wind contracts have seen fixed turbine operators receive approximately £90 per megawatt hour, whilst floating wind installations command £216 per megawatt hour.

The cost projections suggest space-based power operators could qualify for contracts for difference, the same subsidy mechanism currently supporting renewable energy developments. However, the report emphasises that government funding would prove essential for initial development phases. The consultancy recommends beginning with a smaller demonstration system that could subsequently be scaled up once investor confidence has been established, noting that the magnitude of upfront investment required for a full-scale system may otherwise deter private capital.

The concept, whilst long confined to science fiction literature including works by Isaac Asimov and Arthur C Clarke, has gained practical momentum in recent years. The European Space Agency is currently conducting a multi-year research programme called Solaris, with plans for a demonstration satellite. China has launched its own initiative targeting a gigawatt-scale orbital power station by 2050.

Within the UK, private sector engagement has accelerated. Space Solar, a domestic start-up collaborating with the UK Space Agency, is developing designs for self-assembling orbital solar power stations. The company has recently affirmed that its work continues to demonstrate the commercial viability of space-based solar power as a firm, uninterrupted clean energy source.

The publication of this report signals a willingness within government to explore unconventional pathways toward decarbonisation targets. Whether the technology can transition from theoretical promise to practical deployment at the scale and cost required remains an open question, one that will likely depend on sustained public investment and technological breakthroughs in both space launch capabilities and wireless power transmission efficiency.