UK firm secures $600,000 in funding for development of sustainable energy technology from space

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A UK space innovation and technology company on Thursday said that it has taken the “first step” in the development of a new sustainable energy technology from space after it secured some $607,000 in funding from the country's space agency.

"The Catapult has secured almost £500k ($607,000) in funding from the UK Space Agency to kick-start research and development into a future Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) system, which will ultimately create a new, fully renewable baseload energy technology," Satellite Applications Catapult said in a statement.

Sharing the announcement on Twitter, UK Space Agency said: “Space Based Solar Power has the exciting potential to provide sustainable energy, helping meet the government’s net-zero target and provide energy security."

The Catapult said that the project, which runs until March 2023, will focus on wireless power transmission from space, standard tooling interface development for in-orbit servicing and manufacturing, and Program Assurance.

"The funding allows us to deliver many of the critical enabling elements to ensure we get the whole solution, from technology to environmental and regulatory aspects, right the first time," said Sam Adlen, chief strategy officer at the Satellite Applications Catapult.