Series Index
1. Solar Power as a Strategic National Industry
2. Global Competition in the Solar Industry
3. Understanding the Economics of Solar Power
4. The Technology Race in Solar Cells
5 Space Solar Power and the 2035 Energy Strategy
By Park Sang-Nam
CEO, Global Consulting Corp (hgradf@naver.com)
While ground-based solar power has made remarkable progress, it still faces inherent limitations. Solar generation depends on daylight availability and weather conditions, which introduce fluctuations in electricity supply.
Space-based solar power offers a potential long-term solution.
By collecting solar energy in orbit—where sunlight is continuous—and transmitting it wirelessly to Earth, space solar power systems could provide stable electricity generation independent of terrestrial conditions.
Researchers are currently exploring microwave and laser transmission technologies capable of delivering energy from orbital solar stations to ground-based receiving facilities.
Although the concept remains in development, its potential impact is considerable. Some studies suggest that solar energy collected in space could significantly exceed the output of terrestrial solar systems.
Rather than replacing ground-based solar infrastructure, space solar power may function as a complementary technology that helps stabilize renewable energy supply.
The dual-growth strategy proposed in the “K-Solar & Space Solar 2035 Dual Growth Project” emphasizes the simultaneous development of terrestrial solar infrastructure and long-term research into space-based solar systems.
By integrating these two pathways, nations may strengthen energy security while preparing for the next generation of energy technologies.
The future energy landscape will likely involve a combination of advanced renewable technologies, intelligent grid systems, and innovative energy transmission methods.
In that future, solar power—both on Earth and in space—may become one of the most important pillars of the global energy system.
