But I'm always pretty skeptical of space-based solar power proposals. First, the receiving array has to be really large or the energy density of the beam will be dangerous to birds / planes, etc. Second, utility is limited because we already have a huge fusion reactor in the sky beaming energy to us which we simply need to build receivers for.
Said fusion reactor's transmissions are blocked by the earth's bulk for half the day on average, including peak demand hours. The rest of the time it can be partially absorbed by cloud cover, greatly increasing the necessity of spare capacity over extremely wide areas.
Space-based solar doesn't have these issues. It has unfiltered sunlight 24 hours per day.
I wouldn’t bank on it, but I’m glad it’s being explored.
Also, a cable would have to attach to the Earth at the equator, which is some distance from the UK.
Instead those resources and technology development would be better used in creating the manufacturing processes needed to operate in space by mining the moon and capturing asteroids.
You don't need a whole lot of manufacturing lifted into space before you can make it self sustaining and growing of its own work.