UK report examines space-based solar power for offshore wind sites

The UK government has commissioned a report by Frazer-Nash Consultancy exploring the feasibility of space-based solar power (SBSP) as a means to deliver clean electricity directly to the national grid and support the country’s net-zero emissions targets. Published in February 2026 by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the study proposes deploying satellite receivers called rectennas within existing offshore wind farms. These rectennas would capture microwave energy beamed from solar power satellites in geostationary orbit and convert it into grid-ready electricity, leveraging the existing grid infrastructure at offshore wind sites. SBSP offers significant advantages over terrestrial solar, including continuous sunlight exposure, no atmospheric losses, and the potential to generate up to 13 times more energy than ground-based solar installations. The report highlights that a single space-based solar platform could produce up to two gigawatts of reliable, 24/7 power—comparable to a large nuclear reactor—and operate regardless of weather conditions. While upfront costs