SOLAR POWER SATELLITES - HEAT ENGINE OR SOLAR-CELLS

Authors evaluated heat engines and solar cells for converting sunshine to electric power at the satellite. A potassium Rankine cycle was the best of the heat engines, and 50- mu m-thick single-crystal silicon cells were the best of the photovoltaic converters. Neither solar cells nor heat engines had a clear advantage when all factors were considered. The potassium-turbine powerplant, however, was more difficult to assemble and required a more expensive orbital assembly base. Cost analyses on solar-cell energy conversion, conclude that satellite-generated power could be delivered to utilities for around 4-5 cents/kWh.