Astrostrom GmbH has been given a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to study space solar power from the Moon.
Green Astrostrom Systems (GAS) for clean and green energy.
A new company called Astrostrom GmbH based in the Canton of Thurgau has been given a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to study space solar power from the Moon.
As the world leaders gather at COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, to discuss the measures needed to achieve a net-zero energy future, one important element is missing from the discussion: clean energy from space.
While it still sounds like science fiction and the new company is founded by the AstroArtist Arthur Woods, the concept has been studied for more than fifty years and it has never been more feasible or more relevant than today. The cost of launching satellites has been reduced by 90% in the past decade by companies such as SpaceX. Additionally, space hardware costs have also declined significantly while becoming ever more sophisticated and capable.
However, the biggest obstacle to realizing clean energy from space is the logistical challenge of launching many, many rockets from the surface Earth to deploy power satellites that are several kilometers in diameter. One solution is to manufacture the solar power satellites on the Moon from lunar materials. Manufacturing solar power satellite components on the Moon would effectively eliminate both the launch obstacle and the costs of manufacturing future Astrostrom power stations. This is the goal of the ESA study contract awarded to Astrostrom GmbH called “The Greater Earth Lunar Power Station”. The study will last one year and the team includes space engineers, architects and economists.
Astrostrom GmbH has analyzed Switzerland’s energy situation and detected an Energy Dilemma based on Switzerland’s Energy Perspectives 2050+strategy. Wind and terrestrial solar technologies cannot be sufficiently scaled to meet Switzerland’s 2050 energy and climate goals. Sufficient clean energy is needed to maintain industrial productivity and the Swiss standard of living. Inexhaustible clean energy from space is the ultimate green solution.
In addition to eventually supplying clean energy from the Moon, Green Astrostrom Systems (GAS) could be integrated with hydrogen fuel production and carbon capture technologies to make synthetic green fuels, and directly supply Astrostrom to heavy energy users such as data centers.
The world leaders at COP26 should be looking at all options for achieving a clean energy and climate neutral future – including the Space Energy Option.