PS24258 - RAF036/2425 - Feasibility of Small-Scale Space Based Solar Power Systems (SBSP) for Early Market Adoption

Description

***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION *****

This procurement is being concluded following a mini competition under the CCS RM6126 Research & Insights DPS.

Brief Description of Requirement

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), in collaboration with the UK Space Agency (UKSA), has funded a £5.5M innovation program to further explore SBSP.  This programme seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of key technologies, evaluate the potential impact of SBSP on a decarbonised electricity system, and examine the logistics of developing SBSP capabilities.
Despite the promising potential of SBSP, the significant unit costs of large gigawatt (GW) systems deployed in GEO and the extended development timeline (over 15 years) required to bring these systems into operation present investment risks that are currently unattractive to both private and government stakeholders. 
Therefore, the Government is seeking a consultancy to undertake a research to determine the prospect of smaller scale SBSP systems become commercially feasible in the 2030s, thus attracting further private investment and accelerate the development of GW scale systems.