Advantages

♤ The SBSP concept is attractive because space has several major advantages over the Earth's surface for the collection of solar power.

♤ There is no air in space, so the collecting surfaces could receive much more intense sunlight, unobstructed by the filtering effects of atmospheric gasses, cloud cover, and other weather events. Consequently, collection in orbit is approximately 144% of the maximum attainable on Earth's surface.

♤ A satellite could be illuminated over 99% of the time, and be in Earth's shadow on only 75 minutes per night at the spring and fall equinoxes. Orbiting satellites can be exposed to a consistently high degree of solar radiation, generally for 24 hours per day, whereas surface panels can collect for 12 hours per day at most.

♤ Relatively quick redirecting of power directly to areas that need it most. A collecting satellite could possibly direct power on demand to different surface locations based on geographical baseload or peak load power needs.

♤ Elimination of plant and wildlife interference.