Space Solar Power:
Updated Survey ofPrivate Initiatives
Erik Kulu
International Conference on Energy from Space 2024
2024-04-18

Outline
Surveying Space Solar Power
commercial initiatives to track
the growth of the ecosystem:
1. Introduction & why.
2. Scope & survey criteria.
3. Table of space solar power(SSP) activities.
4. Notable updates from the IAC
2023 presentation.
5. Statistical overview ofcommercial activities.
Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Factories in Space (factories-in-space.com)• Public database of commercial entities in theemerging in-space economy, space resources,
and microgravity manufacturing fields.
• Started in 2018 and currently over 920 entries.
• Space Solar Power has been included from thestart under “Space Utilities”.
• Strong belief that in-space manufacturing andspace solar will be the largest space industries.
• Discovering the entities is the main challenge,
cannot Google, someone needs to keep a list.
Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

Erik Kulu, 2024-04-18

3Why Space Solar Power?

Energy is a verylarge existingterrestrial market

Great purpose(abundant cleanenergy)

Flywheel effect tokickstart in-spaceeconomyVery few space industries compare.
We have to try for the benefit of Earth and spaceflight.
Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

Erik Kulu, 2024-04-18

4Why Companies? SLS vs Starship• A consortia of traditional space entities is likely todecide on a SLS-like space solar power solution.
• They work, have good performance, and do thejob, but reusable Starship will be much better.
• There are many technologies, and the large-scale
system design itself, which require lots of iterations
and unconventional approaches.
• An agile and iterative company, with SpaceX-likemindset, is thus much more likely to produce amore competitive & economically viable system.
SLS (Space Launch System)

Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Starship5

Scope: Space Solar Configurations
Many possible SSP options and all are in scope. Non-exhaustive list.
Power beaming

Power generation

Microwaves

GEO

Lasers (optical)

MEO

Mirrors (direct sun reflection)

HEO, Molniya

Solar arrays directly
Mirrors + solar arrays

Orbits,system
locations

LEO
Lunar orbit
Lunar surface

Space-to-Earth
Energy paths& customer
locations

Lagrange points

Space-to-Moon

Mars orbit

Space-to-space
Lunar surface-to-surface
Earth-space-Earth (wireless grids)
Moon-to-Earth

Earth receiverlocationsSpace Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

LandOffshore
Air

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Survey Criteria
Space Solar Power (SSP):• Space solar power, power beaming and solar mirrors.
• Earth, Space and Moon applications.
• Space connection and must use wireless energy.
• Public intentions, evidence or hints towards SSP plans.

Status Definitions:

1. Active – Has or is providing a service.
2. Demonstrated – Flown a space mission.
3. Development – Prototyping technologies.
4. Early stage – Starting or in idea phase.
5. Concept – Studies.
6. Cancelled / Dormant – Previous projects.
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Private Initiatives inSpace Solar Power

71 entities discovered and surveyed

Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

Erik Kulu, 2024-04-18

NameStatusFoundedFirst launch Funding

SBSP Category

TargetLocation, Orbit

Energy Path

Beaming TypePower Generation

Country

3K SpaceTech

Dormant

2021

Dormant?

Power Beaming

Space?

Space-to-space?

?

Canada1000 Planets

Dormant

2000

Dormant

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

USA

Above Space (Orbital
Assembly)

Early stage

2018

2025

$2.3M

Power Beaming

Space

LEO

Space-to-space,
Earth-to-space

Microwave?

USA

AirbusConcept

1970?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power

Earth?

Space-to-EarthMicrowave?

FranceAlviorDormant

2022

Dormant?

Space Solar Power?

?

Space-to-Earth?

?

NorwayAphelia Space

Development

2022?

$0.025M

Power Beaming

SpaceLEO, ?

Space-to-space

Microwave?

Malaysia

Aquila EarthDevelopment

2022

?

$2.1M+

Power Beaming

Earth?

Earth-space-Earth

Laser

Mirrors

Australia

ARTEMIS Innovation

Concept

2005

?

?

Space Solar Power

EarthGEOSpace-to-EarthMicrowave

Mirrors plus solar arrays

USA

Arthur D. Little

Concept

1886?

Yes, ?

Solar Mirrors

Earth

LEO, GEOSpace-to-Earth

Sunlight, Mirrors

Mirrors

USA, UK

Astrostrom

Development

1998

?

$0.1M+Space Solar Power

Moon, Earth

Lagrange, GEO

Space-to-Moon,
Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays

Switzerland

BEAM Co

Development

1996

?

Yes, ?

Power Beaming

Earth, AircraftEarth

Earth-air-Earth

Laser?

USA

Celestia Energy

Early stage2023?

?

Space Solar Power

Earth?

Space-to-Earth

Laser?

United Arab Emirates

Draper Laboratory

Development

1932

?

Yes, ?

Power Beaming

Earth, Aircraft

Earth

Earth-air-Earth

Laser?

USA

EDF Energy UK

Concept

2008?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power

Earth

?

Space-to-Earth?

?

UK

Electric Sky

Development

2014

?

$0.2M+

Power Beaming

Earth, Space

Earth

Earth-air-Earth,
Earth-space-EarthMicrowave?

USA

Emerald
Telecommunications

Concept

2018?

$0.1M+

?

?

?

?

?

?

UK

EmrodDevelopment

2019

2025

$3.3M+

Power Beaming

Earth

LEO, VLEO

Earth-space-EarthMicrowave?

New Zealand, Germany

EnergySpace

Dormant

2020

Dormant?

Power Beaming

?

?

?

?

?

USA

Entropy RnD

Dormant

2017

Dormant?

Power Beaming

Space

?

Space-to-space?

Solar arrays

India

Extraterrestrial Power Concept

2018

?

$0.6M+

Solar Cells?

?

Moon surface?

?

Australia, UK

Frazer-Nash
Consultancy

Concept

1971?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

UK, Australia

Infinity Energy

Early stage

2023?

?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

China

Insta-GridConcept

2017

?

?

Space Solar Power

Earth?

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays

USASpace Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

Erik Kulu, 2024-04-18

9International ElectricCompany

Concept

1999?

?

Space Solar Power

EarthGEOSpace-to-EarthMicrowave

Mirrors plus solar arrays

UK

JX Crystals

Concept

1994?

Yes, ?

Solar Mirrors

EarthLEO

Space-to-Earth

Sunlight, Mirrors

Mirrors

USA

Karman+Development

2021

?

$26M

Space Solar Power

Earth?

?

Microwave?

USA, Netherlands

KESE

Concept

2010

?

?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

USA

KRISOL

Concept

2009?

$0.2M+

Solar Cells?

?

?

?

?

Switzerland

Light Mirror

Early stage

2019?

?

Solar Mirrors

Space, Earth?

Space-to-space,
Earth-to-space

Sunlight, Mirrors

N/A

Lithuania

Lumi Space

Cancelled

2018

Dormant$0.1M+

Power Beaming

Space, Satellite

Earth

Earth-to-space

Laser

N/AUK

Metasat UK

Development

2020

?

?

Space Solar Power

Earth

GEO

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Mirrors plus solar arrays

UK, Canada

Moliri Space Energy

Early stage

2023?

?

Space Solar Power

Earth

GEO

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays

Estonia

Northrop Grumman

Development

1994

2025

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power

Earth?

Space-to-EarthMicrowave?

USA

OHB

Concept

1958?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power

Earth, Aircraft?

Space-to-Earth

Laser?

Germany

Orbital Genesis

Early stage

2022?

?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

USA

Orbital Power Corp

Dormant

2011

Dormant?

Space Solar PowerEarth?

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays, Inflatable

UK, USAORiS (OrbitalRecharge in Space)

Development

2021?

Yes, ?

Power Beaming

Space

LEO

Space-to-space

Laser?

Italy

Overview Energy

Development

2022?

$6.8M+Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

USA

ParaLoon

Development

2022?

$0.05M+

Space Solar Power

Earth, Space?

Space-to-Earth,Space-to-space

Microwave

Solar arrays, Inflatable

Belgium, Italy

Photonicity

Early stage

2019?

$0.11M+

Power Beaming

Space, Earth?

Space-to-space

Laser?

Singapore

Powerlight

Development

2007

?

$4.1M

Power Beaming

?

?

?

Laser?

USA

PowerSat

Early stage

2001

?

?

Space Solar Power

EarthGEOSpace-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays, Inflatable

USA

Pulse (Litepulse)

Early stage

2022

?

?

Power Beaming

Space?

Space-to-space?

?

USA

Reach Power

Development

2015

?

$39.1M

Power Beaming

Earth?

Earth-air-Earth,Space-to-space

Microwave?

USA

ReBeamDormant

2016

Dormant?

Power Beaming

Space?

?

?

?

USA, India

Reflect Orbital

Development

2021

2025

Yes, ?

Solar Mirrors

Earth?

?

Sunlight, Mirrors

Mirrors

USARoland Berger

Concept

1967?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

Germany

Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

Erik Kulu, 2024-04-18

10ROVIAL

Development

2021

?

Yes, ?

Space Solar PowerSpaceLEO?

?

Mirrors

France

RTX Corporation (Raytheon)

Development

1922?

Yes, ?

Power Beaming

Earth, Aircraft

Earth

Earth-air-Earth

Laser?

USA

Satellite Applications Catapult

Concept

2012?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

UK

Shimizu Corporation

Concept

1804

2035

Yes,

Space Solar Power

EarthMoon surface

Moon-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays

Japan

Sirin Orbital Systems

Early stage

2019?

$0.44M+

Power Beaming

Space, Moon, Earth LEO, Moon surface

Space-to-space,Moon surface

Microwave?

Switzerland

SKYCHARGE (Cavu Space)

Concept

2017

?

?

Space Solar Power

Aircraft, Ships

GEO, LEO

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays

UK

Solar Space Technologies

Early stage

2019

2027

?

Space Solar Power

Earth

GEO

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Mirrors plus solar arrays

Australia

Solar System Resources Corp

Early stage

2020

?

?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

PolandSolar.Space

Dormant

2018

Dormant?

Power Beaming

Space

LEO

Space-to-space?

?

UK

SolarenDevelopment

2006

?

$2.5M+Space Solar PowerEarth?

Space-to-EarthMicrowave?

USA

Solestial

Concept

2015

2024

$12.3M+

Solar Cells

?

?

?

?

?

USA

Space Applications Services

Concept

1987?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

Belgium

Space Energy

Dormant

2008

Dormant$4M+

Space Solar Power

Earth

GEO

Space-to-EarthMicrowave?

Switzerland

Space Power

Development

2019

2024

$0.01M+

Power Beaming

Space?

Space-to-space

Laser?

UK

Space Solar

Development

2022

?

$4.3M+Space Solar Power

Earth

GEO

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Mirrors plus solar arrays

UK

Spacians

Dormant

2019

Dormant?

Space Solar Power

Earth, Aircraft?

Space-to-EarthMicrowave?

India, Sweden

Stellarion EnergyDormant

2020

Dormant?

Space Solar Power?

?

?

?

?

India

STELLS

Development

2021

2024

$0.5M

Power Beaming

Moon

Moon surface

Moon surface

Microwave

Solar arrays

CanadaSunCubes

Development

2021?

$0.06M+

Power Beaming

Space, Earth

Earth

Space-to-space

Laser?

Italy

Thales Alenia Space

Concept

2007?

Yes, ?

Space Solar Power

Earth?

Space-to-Earth?

?

Italy, France, UK

The Lunar Grid

Dormant

2021

Dormant$0.15M+

Space Solar Power

Moon

Lunar orbit

Space-to-Moon

Laser?

Luxembourg

Virtus Solis

Development

2018

2027

$0.4M+Space Solar PowerEarthHEO, Molniya

Space-to-EarthMicrowave

Solar arrays

USA, UK

Volta Space (Eternal Light)

Development

2020?

$0.1M+

Power Beaming

Moon

Lunar orbit

Space-to-Moon?

?

Canada, USA

XISP (Xtraordinary InnovativeSpace Partnerships)

Early stage

2012?

?

Power Beaming

Space?

Space-to-space?

?

USA

Space solar power entities: https://www.factoriesinspace.com/space-solar-power
Power beaming entities: https://www.factoriesinspace.com/power-beaming
Figures: https://www.factoriesinspace.com/graphs-taxonomy

Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

Erik Kulu, 2024-04-18

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Key changes from IAC2023 paper
From 52 entities to 71 entities.
Added the following selected companies:• ROVIAL, ORiS, Karman+, Infinity Energy, Insta-Grid,
SKYCHARGE (Cavu Space), etc.
• Reach Power and DARPA POWER selectees:
RTX, Draper & BEAM.

Notable changes and updates:• Virtus Solis announced 2027 demo launch.
• Arthur D. Little & Thales Alenia published ESA studies.
• Eternal Light renamed to Volta SpaceTechnologies.
• Space Solar and Virtus Solis prototyping.
https://www.factoriesinspace.com/graphs/Space-Solar-Power-2023_Erik-Kulu_IAC2023.pdf

Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Statistical Overview

Of 71 commercial space-based solar power activities

Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Solestial, Extraterrestrial Power, Krisol

Arthur D. Little, Reflect Orbital, Light Mirror, JX Crystals

Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Solestial
Space PowerSTELLS

Emrod
Northrop
GrummanAbove Space
Reflect Orbital

Entropy
ReBeamSolar.SpaceSpace Energy
Spacefaring
Spacians
Stellarion
1000 Planets
Virtus Solis
Solar SpaceSpace SolarShimizu

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Solestial, Karman+, Reach Power

1000 Planets, Airbus, Arthur D. Little, BEAM Co,Draper, Frazer-Nash, Northrop Grumman,OHB, Roland Berger, Satellite Applications
Catapult, Shimizu, Space Applications
Services, Thales Alenia Space, Reflect Orbital,
Virtus Solis

Overview Energy
Aquila Earth, Emrod, Powerlight, Solaren,Space Energy, Space Solar, Above Space
Astrostrom, Electric Sky, Emerald, Krisol, Lumi, Photonicity,Sirin, STELLS, The Lunar Grid, Volta
ParaLoon, Space Power, SunCubes, Aphelia SpaceSpace Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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Summary• Space solar power seems to be taking off, but still early days.
• Concept/study stages common – limited prototyping.
• No commercial in-space technology demonstrations yet.
• Private funding has been very limited compared to fusion,launchers, and even the Caltech SBSP donation.
• Awareness, belief and funding must increase significantly.
• Space energy is one of the best-known ideas for a new big
economically sustainable space industry.
• We must try, because space solar power can become amajor economic driver for spaceflight and in-spaceeconomy thanks to the large existing market.
Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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www.factoriesinspace.com
In-Space Economy & Space Solar Power

Erik Kulu

erik@kulu.space
Space Solar Power – Updated Survey of Private Initiatives

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