SAFE~3 - SPACE AID FOR ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND ECONOMICS ECONOMIC ASPECTS

摘要

I would like to present the results of the International Space University (ISU) master's students' team project 2005 at the International Astronautical Congress 2005 in Fukuoka, Japan. We students investigated the potential of space solutions for energy generation and analysed its environmental and economic implications. This presentation will focus on the economic analysis. Facing rising energy demand but, on the other hand, limited energy supply, global policy makers are looking for solutions to meet future global energy demand. Growth rates of energy consumption are predicted to increase significantly in developing countries. Absolute growth will remain strongest in developed countries, as predicted by the International Energy Agency in its World Energy Outlook. Many researchers in the world are trying to come up with solutions requested by society. ISU's contribution to this research is looking at various space solutions. Space solutions to energy supply range from Earth observation for energy resources location and management, to solar power satellites, to technology spin-offs, and space resources exploitation, with each category including several applications. Which of these solutions might be the best seen from an economic point of view, eg. from return on investment or the concept of sustainability? Changed energy consumption patterns would lead to significant changes in international business and in various economies. Today's energy dependent developed countries would gain from new independent energy sources. Today's energy supply countries would suffer from serious losses in their national accounts. The paper shows the potential of space aid to humanity relating to the current dilemma of energy scarcity. Various space solutions are being analysed from an economic point of view.