Japanese satellite will beam solar power to Earth in 2025

[Admin]

Japan will test solar power transmission from space in 2025 with a miniature space-based photoelectric plant that will wirelessly transmit energy from low Earth orbit to Earth.

Japanese satellite will beam solar power to Earth in 2025 : Read more

 

[Classical Motion]

This will be interesting to see. Especially the receiving antenna if I understood correctly. Does the orbit need to be synced, or phased with antenna location? And maybe angle?

I think I understand this concept, to replace fossil fuel. And eventually 24/7 solar power from space in the future. Unfortunately replacing fossil fuel is not the problem. If we replaced all fossil fuel tomorrow............how are you going to meet demand? And believe it or not, demand is just beginning.

And to my way of thinking and I know I am weird, but reflecting sunlight to this "over-warmed planet", is not a good idea. Solar would only be green is if catches incident light.

As for space reflectors, if we could orientate(can) and focus(doubtful) sunlight, it might be useful for clearing our space debris. A focused beam should illuminate the small stuff, maybe even accelerate/ionize it to de-orbit. Cleaning up some of our mess might be done with light beams.

 

[Jan Steinman]

One kilowatt is about the amount of power needed to run a household appliance, such as a small dishwasher, for about an hour…

You're confusing power with energy.

A kilowatt is a unit of power, or the instantaneous product of force and flow, such as 100 volts causing a current of ten amps. A kilowatt will power that appliance as long as the proper voltage is applied, not just an hour.

A kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy, or power times duration. Running an electric dish washer — plus an electric water heater for the diswasher's hot water — for an hour will consume about a kilowatt-hour of energy.

 

[Alaintha]

Reading this article, I kept thinking, what about the size, will they continue to expand and grow? Is one enough? I highly doubt one solar power plant will be enough for most countries. How many other countries will copy this engineering feat and send one up on their own? This space power plant, how will it be affected by " space trash" that falls to earth? What do repairs cost?

I am not a scientist but I do love my telescope, watching the skies and my favorite stars. Scientists have stated that the "solar power" equipment will appear as just a star, I disagree.
What about the "falling trash" from repairs? Or worse, thrown out of orbit from other space trash or some thing larger than an a small meteorite ?

As science reaches for answers to accommodate the growth of Earth's inhabitants, how far will it go? I still have many questions about sending solar power plants to supply beams down to us. If I live long enough, will Earth be entirely surrounded by not only satellites, but now space power plants vying for orbit? How far will this congestion grow?

 

[billslugg]

The congestion will grow until the outcry pushes back. There is heated debate going on right now.
I believe the environmental concerns around dosing any spot on the Earth with that much microwave radiation are going to scuttle it. Fusion or thermal drilling will get there first.

 

[Kipi]

I think that solar energy collection in space will never be strategically feasible as long as there is war between nations. If your entire (or most) energy supply depends on such space structures, your enemy may easily compromise you by destroying your photovoltaic station with one nuke or several conventional missiles. I think this will become (theoretically) possible only if humanity transcends war ( in other words don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen).

 

[Unclear Engineer]

I agree with Kipi regarding the strategic implications of space based solar.

However, the opposite is true for DISTRIBUTED ground based solar. If everybody has the ability to work while off-grid, it would not be possible for an enemy to shut down the whole country's electrical system as Russia is currently seeming to try to do in Ukraine right now.

 

[Kipi]

I agree with UE in that the correct trend would be a gradual shift to decentralized independent small units with as much diversification as possible, some solar, some wind, some hydroelectric, some geothermal and all should be inter-linked into a more resilient system. However, it will take some time and resources and scientific advances until this becomes a reality.

 

[Classical Motion]

Has any here seen recent photographs of Indian and Chinese cities? I spent a year on the Mojave desert in 1969. LA never looked that bad. Can you imagine 10 years from now with all that coal expansion? Geothermal is their only solution. Without ventilators.

Demand will bring inexpensive holes. The tech for generation is the same for coal. And no future supply lines, storage or fees.

Maybe even some year round creeks and wetlands in arid areas. Maybe even replenish large desert lakes.

 

[bolide]

There's enough solar energy hitting Earth now. We don't need a hugely expensive and polluting system to just harvest a bit more of it from orbit. Every parking lot, large roof, irrigation canal, and reservoir behind a dam could be covered with solar panels. For the same money an orbiting system would cost, we could generate more power at the surface, with hugely less pollution.