Mercury as an Energy Hub: Quantitative Assessment of Solar Collection Potential and In-Situ Resource Base

Engineering notes

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Chinese explanation / 中文解读

中文解读待补充：本站会优先为光伏效率、钙钛矿太阳能电池、储能技术、太阳能热利用、BIPV、并网技术等高价值论文补充中文说明。

Original abstract

Mercury occupies a unique position among solar system bodies: it receives the highest solar flux of any planet (6,244--14,448 W/m^2 across its orbit), possesses a metallic-rich surface containing all elements necessary for solar cell and structural fabrication (Si, Fe, Al, Mg, Ti), has essentially no atmosphere, and has the lowest surface gravity (0.38g) of any rocky planet. We present a quantitative assessment of Mercury's potential as a solar energy collection hub serving the broader solar system. Using MESSENGER elemental abundance data (Nittler et al., 2011; Peplowski et al., 2011, 2012; Lawrence et al., 2013) and surface thermal models, we calculate that a 10 km^2 photovoltaic installation at Mercury's mean orbital distance would generate 18.2--36.3 GW depending on cell efficiency, and that in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) of mercurian regolith could supply all raw materials for self-expanding solar collection infrastructure. We derive a seed-factory growth model yielding 100 GW collection capacity within approximately 17--25 years of initial deployment (assuming 30% III-V photovoltaic efficiency and 12--18 month doubling times), scaling to terawatt levels within 20--30 years. Energy export via directed laser beams at 1,064 nm through relay stations could deliver hundreds of gigawatts to Venus, Earth, and Mars, with delivery efficiency of 65--85% for inner solar system destinations. We compare Mercury against alternative collection sites (Sun-proximal free orbits, Venus orbit, Earth orbit, asteroid-based) and demonstrate that Mercury's combination of high flux, metallic composition, low gravity, and vacuum environment makes it the optimal location for a solar system-scale energy collection facility. Upcoming BepiColombo orbital data will refine several key parameters identified herein.

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