International coordination of space solar power related activities

Because the need for energy is global, and many energy networks are already interdependent, because no one country has sufficient technological capability or sufficient funds to provide a space solar powered solution on its own, and because any such solution will require international regulation, international coordination will be vital to any attempt to produce energy for Earth from space. This will be made easier by the fact that work on the subject has already been widely publicized and distributed and cooperative efforts have already been made. Various coordinating approaches are described and the need to forge partnerships between government, industry and academia - with greater involvement of all non-space groups concerned with energy - is emphasized. A "terracing approach" to the actual implementation of SPS is suggested and outlined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.