Solar energy if harvested in space could meet global energy needs in as little as 30 years, according to a new study by the International Academy of Astronautics.

According to the report the future of solar power lies in outer space. Orbiting power plants that can harvest solar energy is feasible with today's technology but it would require long term commitment from governments to provide the seed money and maintain the power plants.

The study, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters, states that space solar power could play an important role in addressing the energy concerns of the world. Although there are no specific plans outlined in the study, the paper does present a general idea of how solar space plants could work. The orbiting solar power plants, each of which would several kilometers across, would be positioned in geosynchronous orbit over the equator. The plants would gather the solar energy, convert it into microwaves or laser beams and directly beam it to Earth. Such a project would be able to power the globe in 30 years.

"It is clear that solar power delivered from space could play a tremendously important role in meeting the global need for energy during the 21st century," according to the study led by John Mankins, a 25-year National Aeronautics and Space Administration veteran and the United States space agency's former head of concepts. The study is the first broadly based international assessment of potential paths to collecting solar energy in space and delivering it to Earth.

The concept of solar space power is attractive both for its environmental impact and from a financial point of view. Solar space plants have "essentially zero" impact on the environment according to the National Space Agency. The costs of the project would be lower than initially estimated as solar space stations can use the cheaper disposable launch vessels. To further bring costs down the project should be funded by both the government and private sectors.

As concerns rise about global climate change and oil becomes a scarce resource, finding alternative energy resources are becoming more important. The Japanese government is already working on plans for a space solar power project that is expected to be operational by 2030 and a number of private companies are funding research into the technology for solar power plant.