Orbiting reflectors offer the possibility of illuminating large terrestrial solar power plants to enhance their output, particularly at dawn and dusk when their output is low but energy spot prices can be high. While the concept of orbiting solar reflectors has been considered in various forms in the past, there is now a timely overlap of rapidly growing global demand for clean energy services, falling launch costs through reusability and the emergence of in-orbit manufacturing technologies to enable the fabrication of large, ultra-lightweight space structures. This paper provides an end-to-end analysis of a possible minimum initial architecture to deliver such global clean energy services. The analysis will cover orbit selection, attitude control requirements, structural analysis and economical viability, followed by a discussion on regulatory issues, future improvements and further applications.

Constellations of orbiting solar reflectors on Sun-synchronous repeat ground track orbits can in principle illuminate large terrestrial solar power plants after sunset or before sunrise. This will enhance the number of hours per day during which such solar power plants can deliver clean energy to the grid. In order to develop and deploy such large-scale in-orbit infrastructure, a number of technology demonstrations will be required to de-risk the technology and build confidence for investment. This paper considers potential technology demonstration activities for orbiting solar reflectors, from laboratory-scale testing to high altitude balloon flight and sub-scale in-orbit demonstration. The key technological requirements for orbiting solar reflectors are identified and the utility of each demonstration step evaluated. An integrated technology development, technology demonstration and investment roadmap is then presented.

The delivery of global clean energy services represents a key challenge for the 21st century. In order to deliver such services, it is clear that large-scale solar power farms will continue to grow both in number and size. In principle, ultralight membrane orbiting solar reflectors can illuminate large-scale solar power farms during the critical dawn/dusk hours of the day, enhancing the utility of terrestrial solar power. The key advantage is that only a relatively modest mass needs to be delivered to Earth orbit. This paper discusses the technical challenges associated with the development, deployment and operation of such a space-based energy service. Business development models are discussed along with regulatory issues and finally an integrated technology demonstration roadmap is presented.

Constellations of orbiting solar reflectors on Sun-synchronous repeat ground track orbits can in principle illuminate large terrestrial solar power plants after sunset or before sunrise. This will enhance the number of hours per day during which such solar power plants can deliver clean energy to the grid. In order to develop and deploy such large-scale in-orbit infrastructure, a number of technology demonstrations will be required to de-risk the technology and build confidence for investment. This paper considers potential technology demonstration activities for orbiting solar reflectors, from laboratory-scale testing to high altitude balloon flight and sub-scale in-orbit demonstration. The key technological requirements for orbiting solar reflectors are identified and the utility of each demonstration step evaluated. An integrated technology development, technology demonstration and investment roadmap is then presented.