The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) wins the Excellence Award for Research and Development this year as it launched a space-based solar power prototype.

The company launched a prototype into orbit aboard the Transporter-6 mission to test several key components of a space-based solar power station.

Space-based solar power aims to harvest the practically unlimited supply of solar energy in outer space that is not dependent on the weather or time of day. SSPP is aiming to deploy a constellation of modular spacecraft that collect sunlight, transform it into electricity, then wirelessly transmit that electricity over long distances.

The Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD) included three main experiments, each tasked with testing a different key technology. The DOLCE (Deployable on-Orbit ultraLight Composite Experiment) will demonstrate the architecture, packaging scheme and deployment mechanisms of the modular spacecraft. The ALBA, a collection of 32 different photovoltaic cells, will assess the types of cells that are the most effective in space. The MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment) aims to demonstrate wireless power transmission at distance in space.

Company Profile

Caltech is renowned for its self-sufficient electricity generation facility, consistently exporting a greater volume of electricity than it imports. Over time, the institution has observed a plateau in its electricity usage, with a notable reduction in consumption per square foot, despite the expansion of its premises. A pivotal shift is anticipated following the institution’s recent declaration to overhaul its energy supply and distribution towards decarbonisation.

Energy production and decarbonisation

Endorsed by President Thomas F. Rosenbaum in the latter part of 2023, Caltech is poised to transition to predominantly carbon-neutral electrical sources. Concurrently, an exhaustive engineering analysis is underway to assess the feasibility of converting the campus’s heating infrastructure from natural gas to electric power. Such a transformation, coupled with the procurement of carbon-neutral electricity, is projected to slash the campus’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 85%, encompassing both on-site production and procured electricity.

Caltech has played a pivotal role in the inception of the Billion Dollar Green Challenge, collaborating with 32 other preeminent American institutions. This initiative aims to collectively invest one billion dollars in energy-efficiency enhancements at educational campuses nationwide. Caltech distinguished itself as the inaugural participant to pledge the use of a self-administered green revolving fund to finance sustainability projects within this framework.

The Caltech Energy Conservation Investment Program (CECIP) represents the institute’s mechanism for funding energy-saving measures through endowment loans. These investments are meticulously tracked and verified, ensuring that the resultant savings from utility costs are redirected back to the endowment. Over the past ten years, CECIP has been instrumental in achieving nearly $20 million in utility cost reductions for the campus.

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Links: Website: https://www.caltech.edu/