On 12/07/2011 8:44 AM, Jonathan wrote:
"Sylvia wrote in message
...
The Australian Government has, for reasons that have much to do with
politics, and little to do with the environment, decided to throw $Au 10
billion into the bottomless pit that is renewable energy.

Lest it all get turned into yet more solar panels and windfarms, I invite
all comers to submit their plans for orbital power satellites. At least
then we might get some technological advance for our money, even though I
doubt we'd actually see any orbital power.


This company says $300 million for the first scale demonstrater.
And some $14 billion for the first giga-watt class Space Solar
Power satellite. And all in five years or less. Roughly the same
cost and time needed to build a new nuclear plant.

http://spaceenergy.com/

Maybe I've missed it in the limited time I've spent looking for it on
the site, but I couldn't find even a rough analysis of the projected
costs. Even the most gullible guardians of public funds would likely be
suspicious of claims that have no supporting analysis whatsoever.

Sylvia.