Each rectenna costs $2. A rectenna panel will cost $30,000 (extra $10,000 for panel structure and AC power conversion and transfer). Cables to connect to a central station cost $3/meter. An estimated 20 meters of power cables will be needed to connect the rectenna panels to the central station. The total cost of a rectenna installation is $10.17 million.
The satellite material cost is estimated at $49 million. In our design, each satellite does not deliver a large amount of power, so the size and weight of the solar arrays and antennas are kept low. The following is a breakdown of satellite costs. Photovoltiacs and satellite launch costs are taken from the project statement; figures 2 and 4 respectively [1].
The budget and schedule for this space solar power grid is centered around meeting the target power costs ($/KWh) at the first 8 target locations by the target of 2025 and the next 8 locations by 2028. The program is broken into five phases: planning and development phase, prototype phase, grid installation phase, grid expansion phase, and the maintenance phase.
The planning and development phase will include the primary satellite and ground station design, mission planning, development of launch schedules, and procurement of materials for the prototype phase. The planning and development phase to conclude with the launch of the first satellite with the Generation 2 space vehicle, the Falcon Heavy, in the year 2016.
The prototype phase begins with the launch of the first power delivery satellite and concludes when that satellite is completely tested for safety and reliability. Initial, low-power, power delivery tests will begin in 2016 and conclude with the first full power operational test in 2017. Once the first satellite is tested at full power, the power delivery system is in place and we can begin to deliver power to the grid; this concludes the prototype phase.
From here, the satellite launch rate will increase as we populate the power delivery constellations. Meanwhile, additional rectenna sites will be installed at a pace of one per year. The grid installation phase will conclude in 2025 when the first key milestone is achieved. At this point, all 8 rectenna installation will be fully operational and the process of launching satellite constellations and installing rectenna sites will be routine.
In the following three years, we will install an additional 8 rectenna sites and launch 80 more satellites to complete the project. In the year 2028, the operation will run at full capacity, delivering 80GW of power to the consumer. At this point, the cost of power will begin to decrease to meet the target power cost figures. The operation will have recouped the initial investment will be on track to provide low power energy solutions for the long term.
In the long term, the final phase of the project will be to enact the maintenance and sustainability plan. In the year 2036, the first of the power constellations will be decommissioned and need to be replaced. Upkeep costs will level out and decrease with time, especially if the solar grid continues to expand into the future.
With an initial investment of $300 billion, we expect to turn a profit in the year 2036 and recoup the investment by year 2040.