Space Solar Energy Promises to Cut Billions in Costs in Europe

Written by Sara Aquino

Published on 17/09/2025 at 10:04

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NASA Space Solar Energy Could Cut €35B Annually in Europe and Reduce Dependence on Terrestrial Renewables.

Europe could save around €35.9 billion per year by 2050 through the adoption of space solar energy, according to a study by King’s College London.

The research reveals that the technology being developed by NASA has the potential to reduce the need for terrestrial renewable generation by up to 80%, as well as decrease reliance on batteries for energy storage on the continent.

The study, published in the scientific journal Joule, projects that this generation model could become a crucial ally in helping the European Union achieve its carbon neutrality goal by 2050.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

What Is Space Solar Energy and How Does It Work

Unlike traditional solar energy, space solar energy is harvested outside of Earth, in orbit, through large satellites equipped with solar modules.

The main advantage lies in continuous collection, as the technology is not affected by clouds and does not depend on the cycle of day and night.

The energy generated in space would be transmitted to receiving stations on Earth, where it would be converted into electricity and integrated into national electrical grids.

In addition to its reliability, the proposal eliminates common risks associated with terrestrial infrastructures, such as floods, extreme winds, or earthquakes.

NASA Research: RD1 Model in Spotlight

The model studied by King’s College is RD1, one of two projects currently underway at NASA.

The U.S. space agency expects the first space solar generation systems to be operational by mid-century.

According to the authors of the study, this is the first analysis to project in detail the economic impacts of applying space solar energy in the European market.

The research also estimates that integrating the technology could reduce the total cost of the European electrical system by up to 15%, including generation, transmission, storage, and grid.

Benefits Beyond Cost Savings

In addition to the billion-euro cost cut, space solar energy could provide strategic gains for European energy security.

By relying less on terrestrial resources, countries would have greater stability in supply, avoiding interruptions and crises related to climate or infrastructure.

Another point highlighted by researchers is the reduction of two-thirds in the need for battery storage, which currently represents one of the biggest barriers to the expansion of renewables.

Space Solar Energy and the Race for Net Zero

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 will require a rapid expansion of the clean energy matrix and new technological solutions.

In this scenario, space solar energy emerges as a strategic complement to already established sources, such as wind and terrestrial solar.

The study suggests that Europe could lead the way by integrating large-scale orbital systems, positioning itself as a global pioneer in utilizing this futuristic energy source.

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Space Solar Energy Promises to Cut Billions in Costs in Europe

NASA Space Solar Energy Could Cut €35B Annually in Europe and Reduce Dependence on Terrestrial Renewables.

What Is Space Solar Energy and How Does It Work

NASA Research: RD1 Model in Spotlight

Benefits Beyond Cost Savings

Space Solar Energy and the Race for Net Zero

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Space Solar Energy Promises to Cut Billions in Costs in Europe

NASA Space Solar Energy Could Cut €35B Annually in Europe and Reduce Dependence on Terrestrial Renewables.

What Is Space Solar Energy and How Does It Work

NASA Research: RD1 Model in Spotlight

Benefits Beyond Cost Savings

Space Solar Energy and the Race for Net Zero

While in Brazil a 10-story building takes 2 years to complete, in China a company stacks pre-fabricated modules and raises the entire building in just 28 hours and 45 minutes.

Egypt wants to draw 10 million cubic meters of water from the Nile per day into the desert, irrigate a new agricultural frontier, and build a city where there is currently only sand.

BRICS is preparing a payment system inspired by the Brazilian PIX that will allow direct transactions between countries using national digital currencies without relying on the dollar or Western banks as intermediaries.

Ethiopia has banned gasoline and diesel cars, placed over a hundred silent electric buses on the streets of Addis Ababa, and now aims for half a million electric vehicles by 2030, all powered by Africa’s largest dam and a courage that few countries have shown.

In the South Atlantic, three isolated volcanic islands cause the wind to draw perfect spirals visible from space: a rare phenomenon called von Kármán vortex streets forms symmetrical patterns behind the peaks of the South Sandwich Islands and was recorded by the NOAA-20 satellite in 2025.

Created to cling to ships like a lamprey, the new U.S. underwater drone sleeps on the ocean floor, launches torpedoes, and recharges itself with the current.

Solar-powered ice factory in the Amazon that eliminated a 5-hour trip to Manaus, prevents the loss of up to two-thirds of the fish, and now ensures income for more than 30 riverside families.

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