The UK is taking an ambitious step towards space-based solar power after a new government study found that solar farms could deliver clean electricity directly to the national grid and help the country meet net-zero targets.

The report, carried out by Frazer-Nash Consultancy, a systems engineering and technology company, was published in February 2026. It evaluates the feasibility of small-scale space-based solar power (SBSP) demonstration projects.

Released by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the study suggests installing satellite receivers, commonly known as rectennas, within existing offshore wind farms.

This would allow them to use the same grid connections already in place at those sites. The rectennas would receive microwave beams transmitted from satellites in geostationary orbit and convert them directly into grid-ready electricity.

Solar power from space

Space-based solar power (SBSP) is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space with satellites and delivering it to Earth. Its benefits include greater energy capture without atmospheric losses, near-continuous sunlight, as well as optimal sun-facing orientation.

This makes space an exceptional environment for harvesting solar power. What’s more, an orbital power plant could generate up to 13 times more energy than an identical installation on Earth.

SBSP can solve intermittency, an issue that even the UK’s rapidly expanding wind and solar industries cannot fully escape. As per the study, a single space-based solar platform could generate up to two gigawatts (GW) of electricity.

This is roughly equivalent to a large conventional nuclear reactor which is capable of delivering reliable, around-the-clock power 24 hours a day. The technology can operate in all kinds of weather.

A rectenna on Earth would convert the microwaves back into electricity, feeding it directly into high-voltage infrastructure. At the same time offshore wind farms are already equipped with substations and export cables. They could serve as natural landing sites for these orbital power links.

Unlimited grid power

According to the report, although upfront costs remain high, targeted investment and policy support today could allow small-scale space-based solar power (SBSP) to become cost-competitive with other power sources by 2040.

“However, without prior de-risking, the scale of the upfront investment required for the first large-scale system may deter investors, making it more difficult to unlock the full benefits of SBSP,” the report stated.

The report noted that large-scale rectennas could have environmental and visual impacts, and require extensive assessment before deployment. “Small-scale SBSP has the potential to support a pathway to net zero by de-risking the pathway to a large-scale system, thereby reducing barriers to investment,” the study said.

Launch costs also remain a major factor, as tens of thousands of lightweight solar panels would need to be placed in orbit to build a full-size system. However, the cost of launch has dropped dramatically over the past decade, driven by reusable rockets and growing commercial competition.

DESNZ concluded that with early investment, SBSP could reach grid-competitive prices, between (GBP 87) USD 118/MWh and (GBP 129) USD 175/MWh by 2040.

“To further develop the case for small-scale SBSP, both public and private sector support will be needed to help industry resolve and overcome technical barriers,” the report suggested.