Solar power harnessed from space: A potential energy solution for the future?
In the pursuit of a sustainable future, the idea of harnessing solar power from space, a concept proposed by SpaceX, is gaining renewed attention. This concept, initially proposed in 1968, has been undergoing development by various nations, including the United States, Japan, and China.
The two main designs under consideration by NASA are the heliostat swarm and the planar array. The heliostat swarm, a system using thousands of reflectors to focus sunlight onto a central receiver, could potentially operate 99% of the year. However, it is still in the development stage and faces challenges in terms of cost and complexity.
On the other hand, the planar array, a design with flat solar panels that face the Sun, is far closer to being technically feasible now. Although it could generate power only about 60 per cent of the year, it is seen as a more cost-effective option in the long run. To be cost-effective by mid-century, the planar array would need to come down to nine times the cost of ground solar.
The advantages of space-based solar power are numerous. Orbiting satellites could face the Sun almost continuously and collect far stronger solar radiation than panels on the ground, allowing them to avoid the limitations of Earth-based panels such as the Sun setting, clouds, rain, and seasonal shifts.
Moreover, a recent study predicts a 70% reduction in the need for large batteries for renewable power. The captured energy would be converted into microwaves and beamed to receiving stations on Earth, potentially supplying Europe with steady energy at far lower storage requirements.
However, there are still challenges to overcome. Beaming power across space and atmosphere is still largely untested at scale. Vast orbital structures would have to be built and maintained by autonomous robots, a technology that does not yet exist outside experimental settings.
The pace of cost reduction in rocket launches, robotics, and wireless transmission will decide whether space-based solar becomes a pillar of the energy mix or remains a niche experiment. Nations like China argue that without state-led strategies, they risk falling behind in the development of space-based solar power.
As the world aims for net-zero goals, the potential benefits of space-based solar power are becoming increasingly clear. A vision for a power station orbiting Earth to collect solar energy has been proposed. With Europe's net-zero goal for 2050 requiring vast amounts of renewable energy, space-based solar could replace up to 80 per cent of Europe's current need for ground-based renewables.
Small-scale demonstrations of space-based solar power are already being tested by the United States and Japan. As technology continues to advance and costs continue to decrease, space-based solar power may soon become a reality, providing a steady, reliable source of renewable energy for the future.
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