Space power systems: Producing transportation (and other chemical) fuels as an alternative to electricity generation

While most studies on space power systems target electricity generation as the energy product, industrialized nations also have a need for chemicals to support transportation and other purposes. This paper therefore describes an alternative target for the application of space power systems: the production of chemical fuels based on radiant energy beamed or reflected from orbiting platforms. If cost and efficiency targets can be achieved, Solar Thermochemical Plants—occupying a few square kilometers each—can potentially generate substantial quantities of transportation fuels, therefore enabling reductions in the consumption of petroleum and the emission of carbon dioxide. The specifics of the approach that are described in this paper include the concentration of radiant energy within ground-based systems so that high temperature heat is provided for thermochemical process networks. This scoping study includes the evaluation of various feedstock chemicals as input to the Solar Thermochemical Plant: natural gas, biomass and zero-energy chemicals (water and carbon dioxide); and the production of either hydrogen or long-chain hydrocarbons (i.e., Fischer–Tropsch fuels) as the Solar Fuel product of the plant.