Solar Power from Space - Scientific wonder!!
Solar Power from Space - Scientific wonder!!
The idea of generating solar power in space and sending it back to Earth through microwaves may seem implausible.
But it's something that could happen as early as 2035, says Martin Soldau, co-chair of the Space Energy Initiative (SEI), a consortium of industry educators.
The SEI is working on the Cassiopeia project to create a cluster of supermassive satellites in high Earth orbit. system. Once these satellites are launched, they will generate solar power and transmit it to Earth. As such, the amount of potential electricity available is limitless, says Martin Zoldov.
"Theoretically, the world's electricity needs could be met by 2050," he says.
Satellites launched under this program will be made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces that are made of one piece. These pieces are manufactured on Earth and sent into space. There, robots assemble these pieces to form the satellites. These robots will also fix the malfunctions in these satellites.
Solar power generated by these satellites is converted into high frequency radio waves and sent to rectifying antennas installed on Earth. They convert radio waves into electricity.
Each satellite will be capable of supplying 2 GW of power to the power package. On this basis, each satellite is comparable to a nuclear power plant.
So why can't solar power be generated on Earth itself? Why does it seem like it needs to go to space? There is a reason for that.
On Earth, sunlight is scattered by the equator. But for a solar power generation satellite stationed in space, the sunlight comes straight through without any interference.
Thus, solar panels placed in a space solar power station will produce much more electricity than panels of the same data-size placed on Earth.
Such projects are being developed in many places
In the United States, for example, the air Force Research Laboratory, the country's air Force Research Laboratory, is working on developing critical technologies for such a power generation system. The project is called Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstration and Research (SSPIDR).
Increasing solar cell efficiency, converting solar energy into radio waves, reducing large temperature fluctuations on the spacecraft, and creating a workable design are some of the technologies that this American company is striving to develop.
"These beams are microwaves. They're very low pressure, like the Wi-Fi waves that are around us all the time. They're about a quarter of the density of daytime sunlight," says Soldau.
"If you're standing at the equator, in the desert, these are about a quarter of the waves you'd get per square meter, so they're inherently safe," he says.
"But we'd like to believe that the technology is here, but my personal opinion is that it's not ready enough to take on such a complex project," says Dr. Joanna Radulovic. He is professor of Thermodynamics at the university of Portsmouth and an expert on renewable energy systems.
Installing large-scale solar panels in space is costly, and such projects would require hundreds of times the launch of objects into space. It emits a lot of carbon dioxide into the earth.
But the most sober sentiments of faith are not without expression. The Environmental Impact Assessment of the Cassiopeia project was carried out by the university of Strathclyde. The study also takes into account the potential carbon emissions from the project. The study predicts that 24 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity is produced, which is very low.
The cost of launching objects into space is decreasing over time. This cost is reduced by 90 percent. It will decrease further. Thus, decreasing cost of launching objects into space improves its economic feasibility, and good progress has been made in the design of solar-powered satellites and robotics technology, says Soldau.
With limited funding from the UK government, this SEI The project also hopes to secure private capital for related technology.
The idea of generating solar power in space and sending it back to Earth through microwaves may seem implausible.
But it's something that could happen as early as 2035, says Martin Soldau, co-chair of the Space Energy Initiative (SEI), a consortium of industry educators.
The SEI is working on the Cassiopeia project to create a cluster of supermassive satellites in high Earth orbit. system. Once these satellites are launched, they will generate solar power and transmit it to Earth. As such, the amount of potential electricity available is limitless, says Martin Zoldov.
"Theoretically, the world's electricity needs could be met by 2050," he says.
Satellites launched under this program will be made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces that are made of one piece. These pieces are manufactured on Earth and sent into space. There, robots assemble these pieces to form the satellites. These robots will also fix the malfunctions in these satellites.
Solar power generated by these satellites is converted into high frequency radio waves and sent to rectifying antennas installed on Earth. They convert radio waves into electricity.
Each satellite will be capable of supplying 2 GW of power to the power package. On this basis, each satellite is comparable to a nuclear power plant.
So why can't solar power be generated on Earth itself? Why does it seem like it needs to go to space? There is a reason for that.
On Earth, sunlight is scattered by the equator. But for a solar power generation satellite stationed in space, the sunlight comes straight through without any interference.
Thus, solar panels placed in a space solar power station will produce much more electricity than panels of the same data-size placed on Earth.
Such projects are being developed in many places
In the United States, for example, the air Force Research Laboratory, the country's air Force Research Laboratory, is working on developing critical technologies for such a power generation system. The project is called Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstration and Research (SSPIDR).
Increasing solar cell efficiency, converting solar energy into radio waves, reducing large temperature fluctuations on the spacecraft, and creating a workable design are some of the technologies that this American company is striving to develop.
"These beams are microwaves. They're very low pressure, like the Wi-Fi waves that are around us all the time. They're about a quarter of the density of daytime sunlight," says Soldau.
"If you're standing at the equator, in the desert, these are about a quarter of the waves you'd get per square meter, so they're inherently safe," he says.
"But we'd like to believe that the technology is here, but my personal opinion is that it's not ready enough to take on such a complex project," says Dr. Joanna Radulovic. He is professor of Thermodynamics at the university of Portsmouth and an expert on renewable energy systems.
Installing large-scale solar panels in space is costly, and such projects would require hundreds of times the launch of objects into space. It emits a lot of carbon dioxide into the earth.
But the most sober sentiments of faith are not without expression. The Environmental Impact Assessment of the Cassiopeia project was carried out by the university of Strathclyde. The study also takes into account the potential carbon emissions from the project. The study predicts that 24 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity is produced, which is very low.
The cost of launching objects into space is decreasing over time. This cost is reduced by 90 percent. It will decrease further. Thus, decreasing cost of launching objects into space improves its economic feasibility, and good progress has been made in the design of solar-powered satellites and robotics technology, says Soldau.
With limited funding from the UK government, this SEI The project also hopes to secure private capital for related technology.