Space-Based Solar Power: Optimal Integration of Orbiting Solar Reflectors in Power Grids for Economic and Environmental Benefits

The dual challenges of escalating operational costs linked to fossil fuel consumption and the urgent need to mitigate carbon emissions necessitate innovative strategies for energy sustainability and resilience. Space-based solar power technologies, particularly orbiting solar reflectors (OSRs), have emerged as an advanced solution to extend solar energy availability by reflecting sunlight from space to terrestrial solar power farms (SPFs) beyond daylight hours. This paper presents an approach to reduce power grid fossil fuel costs and carbon emissions by optimally integrating OSRs with a terrestrial SPF. The methodology employs a modified IEEE test system and optimal power flow analysis within a MATLAB framework to determine the optimal placement and sizing of the SPF for minimising active power losses, fossil fuel costs and carbon emissions. The research evaluates multiple operational scenarios, ranging from conventional generation to the combined operation of the SPF and OSRs. The results confirm that OSR integration substantially enhances SPF energy output during dawn and dusk hours, leading to lower fossil fuel costs, decreased carbon emissions, and improved voltage stability across the power grid. These findings underscore the potential for substantial economic and environmental benefits in future energy systems by seamlessly integrating OSRs technology with terrestrial SPFs.