Contractors Corner: A-C Solar

Dr. Paul Jaffe discusses a 4-year ground-breaking research effort in space-based beamed solar power technology involving the development & testing of modules for conversion of sunlight into microwaves, which is currently in orbit on the X-37B space plane. Space-based beamed solar power works by collecting solar power with orbiting solar power satellites and beaming it back to Earth. Its advantages include a higher collection of energy due to the lack of reflection and absorption by the atmosphere and the elimination of nighttime blackout periods that currently require petroleum-based standby systems for terrestrial solar power. Space-based solar power systems convert sunlight to microwave or optical energy, which can be transmitted through the atmosphere to receivers on the Earth's surface. Dr. Paul Jaffe, an electronics engineer and researcher at the Naval Center for Space Technology at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). In over 25 years at the NRL, he has worked on dozens of space missions for a range of defense and civilian agency sponsors. Dr. Jaffe earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, and served as a coordinator of two studies of the military applications of Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP), and as an editor of the study groups’ final reports. YOUTUBE LINKS: Microwave Power Beaming Demonstration 2021 https://youtu.be/JGuPaYtcJx8 Laser Power Beaming Demonstration 2021 https://youtu.be/9MI2ph9jptM Laser Power Beaming Demonstration 2019 https://youtu.be/Xb9THqrXd4I Wireless Power STEM Demo on the International Space Station https://youtu.be/zo7w0D6vz5g First test of solar power satellite hardware in orbit https://youtu.be/NTrGFDQPHV8 Space Solar Demonstrated on a Table Top https://youtu.be/_7go0TO3ufI How to Build a LEctenna https://youtu.be/3j7sAjWgySQ Space Solar Explained https://youtu.be/x6WaTfPjsrc Power Beaming and Space Solar (HDIAC webinar): https://youtu.be/_UhFaLgmJsk 2016 Defense, Diplomacy, and Development Space Solar presentation: https://youtu.be/M9dQsRv1XDg JOURNAL ARTICLES: Practical Power Beaming Gets Real https://spectrum.ieee.org/power-beaming Terrestrial Microwave Power Beaming (in IEEE Journal of Microwaves, Jan 2022) https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9662403 Microwave and Millimeter Wave Power Beaming (in IEEE Journal of Microwaves, Jan 2021) https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9318744 2009 study report: Space-Based Solar Power: Possible Defense Applications and Opportunities for NRL Contribution https://space.nss.org/wp-content/uploads/2008-NRL-SBSP-Possible-Defense-Applications-And- Opportunities.pdf 2019 study report: Opportunities and Challenges for Space Solar for Remote Installations https://space.nss.org/wp-content/uploads/Space-Solar-for-Remote-Installations-2019.pdf https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1082903.pdf PRESS ARTICLES: CNN exclusive: A solar panel in space is collecting energy that could one day be beamed to anywhere on Earth https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/23/americas/space-solar-energy-pentagon-science-scn-intl/index.html Wireless Power STEM Demo on the International Space Station https://www.nrl.navy.mil/LEctenna First test of solar power satellite hardware in orbit https://www.nrl.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/2220998/nrl-conducts-first-test-of-solar-power-satellite-hardware-in-orbit/ Space Solar TEDx talk https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_jaffe_common_ground_from_space The Drive - We Talk To The Scientist Whose Revolutionary Power Beaming Experiment Is Flying On The X-37B https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35167/we-talk-to-the-scientist-whose-revolutionary-power-beaming-experiment-is-flying-on-the-x-37b NRL Space-Based Solar Power Concept Wins Secretary of Defense Innovative Challenge https://www.nrl.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/2529732/nrl-space-based-solar-power-concept-wins-secretary-of-defense-innovative-challe/

Examining why solar and wind power are not mainstream in the automotive industry by now. Enjoy.

On this episode of House Calls Vermont, Jim and Chris talk to you about renewable energy, and specifically solar power! They also talk with Marcus Shapiro from Green Mountain Solar.

Generating renewable energy from solar power has been a great resource but land for this purpose can come into conflict with other uses or receive opposition from those who don't enjoy the view. But can floating solar panels on water - which accounts for most of the surface of the planet - provide an alternative?Tom Heap meets Mark Bennett, a farmer from Berkshire, who created a reservoir for soft fruit production and was curious to see if it had more potential. After a quick internet search he went to visit Ciel et Terre, a French company who were developing floating solar panels. He installed them for power at the farm and to demonstrate to others. Meanwhile the company founder Bernard Prouvost talks to Tom about the countries around the world which are adopting this, where he feels floating panels are appropriate and if the potential to partner with hydrodams. Climate Scientist Dr Tamsin Edwards assesses their carbon cutting potential. Producer: Anne-Marie Bullock Researcher: Sarah GoodmanProduced in association with the Royal Geographical Society. Special thanks for this episode to Dr Tasmiat Rahman from the University of Southampton and Grant Feasey from AES Solar.