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 capabi lity or sufficient funds to provide a space solar powered solution on its o wn, and because any such solution will require international regulation, in ternational 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 su bject has already been widely publicized and distributed and cooperative ef forts have already been made. Various coordinating approaches are described and the need to forge partnerships between government, industry and academ ia - with greater involvement of all non-space groups concerned with energy - is emphasized. A "terracing approach" to the actual implementation of SP S is suggested and outlined. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.