Plan of the lunar solar power station

What is the greater Earth lunar power station (GE-LPs)?

The Greater Earth Lunar Power Station (GE⊕-LPS) is a habitable space station in lunar orbit that is designed to provide solar energy for lunar operations. Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) and space tourism could become major economic drivers for future space development.

Can space-based solar power work for the Moon?

But Space-Based Solar Power can also work for the Moon. As part of ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform Campaign on ‘ Clean Energy – New Ideas for Solar Power from Space ’, a study undertaken by Switzerland’s Astrostrom company designed a Greater Earth Lunar Power Station, or GE⊕-LPS for short.

How would solar panels work on the Moon?

The design would yield continuous 23 megawatts of energy for lunar surface operations. The solar panels themselves are based on iron pyrite monograin-layer solar cells produced on the Moon. Located at an Earth-Moon Lagrange point around 61 350 km from the lunar surface, the station itself would also be inhabited.

Could a solar power satellite be built from the Moon?

The study envisages a solar power satellite constructed mainly from lunar resources (including Moon-manufactured solar cells) that could deliver megawatts of microwave power down to receivers on the lunar surface, serving the needs of surface activities, including future crewed bases.

Could a solar power satellite tile be used to power the Moon?

This early technology development project aims to develop a solar power satellite tile that can be expanded as needed to create a massive structure that would convert solar energy and transmit power to stations on the surface of the Moon. It would supply continuous power to lunar stations, even when they do not have direct sunlight.

Could space-based solar power be a major economic driver for future space development?

Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) and space tourism could become major economic drivers for future space development. The main obstacle to implementing SBSP is launching a solar power satellite (SPS) from the surface of Earth.