(Tiper Stock Exchange) – Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), was chosen byEuropean Space Agency (ESA) to conduct a feasibility study for the Solaris initiative, which will determine the feasibility of a project to deliver clean space-based solar energy to meet needs on Earth. Europe is aiming for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To achieve this ambitious goal, the European energy industry needs to make use of renewable, controllable and affordable sources of energy available throughout the world. Solar energy from space is a promising solution to meet this need.
Thales Alenia Space leads a consortium for the development of a ambitious solution for Europe: “collect” solar energy in orbit, where it is available without having to worry about weather conditions or the night, and then send it back to Earth. The Solaris studies should allow Europe to make an informed decision, by 2025, whether or not to continue a development program for the commercialization of solar energy in space, with the initial goal of designing a small-scale demonstrator.
Solaris was approved by ESA Ministerial Council in November 2022, with the aim of making Europe the protagonist, and possibly the leader, in the international race to develop clean and sustainable energy solutions to mitigate man-made global warming. Thales Alenia Space will lead this feasibility study, which aims to develop a broad range of both space-based and ground-based key enabling technologies for a solar energy delivery system from space, including highly efficient space-based solar plants, wireless energy transmission and in-orbit robotic assembly. These studies will guide subsequent research and development activities.
The concept of space solar energy complements renewable energy sources on Earth, rather than competing with them, because solar energy from space is available 24/7, thus ensuring continuity of electricity supply.
The European consortium carrying out these studies offers a wide range of complementary areas of expertise, ranging from orbital systems (Thales Alenia Space), aviation (Dassault Aviation), strategic consulting (Arthur D. Little) and especially energy (Engie, ENEL, Air Liquide), clearly illustrating the project’s strong potential for the global energy industry.