Current research and evaluation of the physical resources requirements for the Satellite Power System (SPS) concentrates on three topics: land requirements and the siting of rectennas; the environmental impacts of the rectenna siting; and the materials requirements. The first two focus exclusively on the Earth based element of the SPS while the materials assessment considered requirements for both the space and Earth systems

Ankerbrandt, S. D.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

AN EVALUATION OF THE LAND AND MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE SATELLITE POWER SYSTEM
Samuel D. Ankerbrandt ,_, _82'PRC Energy Analysis Company
22693
Current research and evaluation of the physical resources requirements for
SPS concentrated on three topics: land requirements and the siting of recten-
na; the environmental impacts of a rectenna siting, and the materials require-
ments for SPS. The first two of these topics focus exclusively on the earth-
based element of the SPS while the materials assessment considered requirements
for both the space and earth systems. The identification, classification, and
selection of adequate areas deemed eligible for rectenna siting is critical to
further consideration of the SPS reference system. Although each specific rec-
tenna site will generate unique environmental, social, and economic impacts,
the prototype environmental assessment illustrates the range of problems which
may be encountered. The sheer size and scope of total SPS operations begs
questions relating to detailed materials requirements and the availability
which are addressed in the materials assessment work.
The methodology employed in the rectenna siting work has been one of system-
atically eliminating areas in the contiguous forty-eight states which could
not be used for rectenna siting. Areas were eliminated through the analysis
of categories of variables (Exhibit l) ranging from those variables which would
absolutely exclude rectenna siting, to those which potentially might exclude
rectenna siting, to those affected by SPS design and/or cost constraints.
Among the absolute exclusion variables are topography, specifically designated
lands such as national recreation areas and military reservations, specific
land use areas such as populated areas and interstate highways, and areas which
pose problems of electromagnetic compatibility. Potential exclusion areas
include specifically designated lands such as Indian reservations and national
parks and grasslands, specific land-use areas such as croplands, areas which
pose problems of electromagnetic compatibility, and flyways of waterfowl and
and other birds. Design/cost variables included natural occurrences such as
tornadoes, freezing rain, and seismic risk.
These "eligible" areas are plotted on 7.5 minute quad maps roughly 13 kilometers
on a side for maximum definition and the analytic results have been automated to
to enhance further studies as well as the performance of sensitivity analyses.
Sensitivity analyses and validation studies have been performed as part of the
work. In short, the methodology for determining "eligible" areas for SPS rec-
tenna sites is highly automated, elegant, and widely applicable. What the
methodology shows is that there probably are adequate suitably-located areas
for rectenna sites in the U. S. It shows that topography is the most important
physical variable in determining eligible areas; sites can be placed in differ-
ent terrain but only at substantial cost penalties incurred in site preparation.
Important questions the methodology does not completely address are those con-
cerning electromagnetic compatibility and the effect of microwave energy on
migratory birds.
Considerations for the selection of a specific rectenna site has been addressed
in a prototype environmental impact statement (EIS) performed for a site in the
California desert about 250 kilometers north of Los Angeles. This SPS study
benefitted from data assembled and analyses performed for an EIS for a geotherm-
al project in the same area and required only the hypothetical placement of a
_ rectennain the area and alteration in the analyses. The specific objectives of
125
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the study were: (1) to develop a comprehensive prototype assessment of the
non-microwave-related impacts on the natural and human environments of the SPS
reference systems ground receiving station (GRS); (2) to assess the impacts of
GRS construction and operations in the context of actual baseline data for the
specific site; and (3) identify the critical GRS characteristics or parameters
that are most significant in terms of both the natural and human environment.
The prototype EIS concluded that the critical project parameters include: the
sheer size and intensivity of use of the contiguous land area required by an
SPS GRS; the lack of flexibility in siting individual rectenna structures once
the rectenna boundaries are established; the difficulties in finding suitable
sites that do not conflict with other societal needs and values; uncertainties
relating to reestablishing nature ecosystems following total ecosystem modifi-
cations during construction, and the related need for further research into
microclimatic effects near the ground-surface beneath the rectenna panels; the
proposed two-year GRS construction schedule which has significant implications
for project socioeconomic impacts, air quality, water supply and biological
resources and possible logistical problems for GRS construction - all of which
could be reduced by extending the construction schedule; and the public versus
private GRS ownership which has significant implications for GRS impacts on the
local tax base.
Since the earth and space components of the SPS will require enormous amounts of
material s, a materials assessment was conducted to detail the material require-
ments for SPS and to identify potential availability problems and constraints
so that responsive action could be defined and incorporated into overall SPS
planning. The materials assessment analysis identified 22 materials used in the
SPS, and tracing the production processes for these 22 materials, identified a
total demand for over 20 different bulk materials and revealed a requirement for
nearly 50 raw materials. The analysis evaluates each material in terms of world
and domestic supply, manufacturing capacity and adequacy of the data base. The
refined methodology uses computerized screening of the materials with the flags
raised at various threshold levels as a function of several parameters, such as
current domestic and world production rates and domestic and world reserves.
Thresholds can be changed and the analysis rapidly run to determine sensitivities.
Assessment of these SPS material requirements produced a number of potential
material supply problems (Exhibit 2), the more serious associated with the solar
cell materials (gallium, gallium arsenide, sapphire, and solar grade silicon),
and the graphite fiber required for the satellite structure and space construc-
tion facilities. In general, the gallium arsenide SPS option exhibits more seri-
ous problems than the silicon option, possibly because gallium arsenide technolo-
gy is not as well developed as that for silicon.
126
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EXHIBIT i. CATEGORIES OF THE VARIABLES
"ABSOLUTE EXCLUSION
Inland Water
Military Reservations
Atomic Energy Co-w.lssion Lands
National Recreation Areas
SMSA' s
Adjusted Population Density
Marshland Vegetation
Perenially Flooded Areas
Endangered Species
Inters tare Highways
Topography Unacceptable
EMC-A150
EMO-AI00
EMC-Ab0
POTENTIAL EXCLUSION - HIGH IMPACT PROBABILITY
Indian Reservations
National Forests and Grasslands
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Agricultural Lands - Mostly Cropland
Agricultural Lands - Irrigated
EMC-PIb0
EMC-PI00
EMC-P60
EMC-Pb0
POTENTIAL EXCLUSIONS - IMPACT UNKNOWN
Flyways of Migratory Waterfowl - Ducks
Flyways of Migratory Waterfowl - Gee'se
DESIGN/COST VARIABLES
Tornado Occurrence
Acid Rainfall
Snowfall
FreezlngRain
Sheet Rainfall
Wind
Lightning Density
Hall
Seismic Risk
Timbered Areas
Water Availability
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An evaluation of the land and material requirements for the satellite power system

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