Review of Solar, Thermal, and Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting for Satellites
Abstract
With the rapid development of commercial aerospace, emerging applications such as satellite constellations, space-based communications, and orbital computing platforms have significantly increased the demand for efficient and reliable spacecraft power systems. Abundant exploitable energy exists in the space environment, including Air Mass Zero (AM0) solar radiation, spacecraft surface temperature gradients, ambient electromagnetic radiation, and radioisotope thermal energy, making multi-source energy harvesting a promising approach for improving satellite energy autonomy and system redundancy. This paper reviews the following four key space energy harvesting technologies: photovoltaic power generation, radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting, thermoelectric energy harvesting, and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). The impacts of harsh space environmental factors on device performance and reliability are analyzed, and the applicability of different technologies in low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and deep-space missions is discussed. Furthermore, a multi-source self-powered satellite energy architecture integrating energy harvesting, energy storage, and power management is proposed. Finally, the major challenges and future development trends of satellite energy harvesting systems are summarized.
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