The Government has announced £3m of grant funding for space-based solar power projects.

The grant funding will be made available for space-based solar power (SBSP) projects that can collect solar power in a high earth orbit and beam it securely to a fixed point on the earth. Its main attribute is the ability to deliver clean, baseload energy, day and night throughout the year and in all weathers. Recent technology and conceptual advances have made the concept worthy of consideration by the UK.

Grant funding will also be made available for cutting-edge weather monitoring sensors to aid more accurate weather forecasts. The sensors will be put into orbit for the first time, thanks to a partnership with data and analytics company Spire Global.

Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Space-based solar power could provide an affordable, clean and reliable source of energy for the whole world to benefit from, helping the move away from expensive fossil fuels. Today’s investment is an exciting example of how we can go even further in our ambitions to make the UK a science superpower.”

The announcement builds on the recommendations of the techno-economic study by Frazer-Nash Consultancy, published in 2021 predicting that such systems are only technically viable, but could be developed quickly enough to provide a major contribution to the UK’s Net Zero commitments.

Martin Soltau, co-chair of the Space Energy Initiative welcomed the funding, said: “I am delighted that the findings of the Frazer-Nash study have been responded to in this positive way. This announcement is the first important step on a journey which will ultimately lead us to clean, green energy from space that can be beamed to earth day and night, through all seasons and weather. It’s the most forward-looking solution we have today to the UK’s future energy needs.”

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