Seminar

Abstract

With current technology governments can do little to cut CO₂ releases. A serious reduction of CO₂ would cause a major rise in the cost of energy. High energy cost would cause the economy to crash and the government would be replaced with a new one. The new government would repudiate the previous policies and the country would return to burning coal and oil.

A way out is new technology, an energy source cheaper than coal. Electricity from coal is about 4 cents /kWh. The cost of power from steady renewable sources is a cent per $800 of investment. For 3 cents kWh (25% < coal) the capital investment limit is $2400/kW.

For power satellites, the parts and labor cost is about $1100/kW leaving $1300/kW for transport. For a mass of 6.5 kg/kW and a lift cost of no more than $200/kg, the capital cost requirement can be met. $200/kg is a 100-fold reduction from the current cost of Earth to GEO. This seems to be possible. Cost projections for the Skylon indicate a cost of $120/kg to LEO at 10,000 flights per year. The LEO-to-GEO leg moves tens of thousands of tons, powered from the ground by a reversed-power satellite microwave downlink. The cost is under $70/kg for a total cost of less than $200/kg.