by China proposes to build a huge solar power station in space. The effective size of the solar panel will be 0.6 miles. The energy is converted into microwave radiation and transmitted to Earth. Modern solar panels are much more efficient than they were 20-30 years ago, but their operation is still limited by bad weather and night darkness. Just imagine what it would be like if you could accumulate all this solar power supply without interruption from space.
Well, scientists from China believe it is possible. Chinese scientists plan to build a giant solar power station that will be located more than 20,000 miles (32,000 km) above the Earth’s surface, with dimensions of about 0.6 miles (1 km) in diameter when fully completed. In addition to constant access to sunlight, solar stations in space have an energy density 10 times greater than what you can get from solar panels on the roof of your house, as sunlight in space is much more intense. Wondering how you can bring all that clean electricity back to Earth? This happens by converting electricity into microwave radiation, which is then transmitted to a stationary antenna on solid ground, explains.
And the man behind this development believes it is not science fiction. “We are currently working on this project,” said Long Lehao, a rocket scientist and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). “It is as significant as moving the Three Gorges Dam to a geostationary orbit at a distance of 36,000 km (22,370 miles) above Earth.” The ambitions are big, and the construction even bigger. The Three Gorges Dam in China (pictured above) is a hydroelectric power station that opened in 2012, and its annual power capacity of 100 billion kWh makes the Hoover Dam look like a dull tap. Long claims that the amount of energy accumulated over one year from the space station will be “equivalent to what can be obtained from Earth.” The Three Gorges was such a massive project that its completion took 18 years, and there will be no quick turnaround for the solar space station, either.
The greatly complex construction process required to launch all parts of the solar station into orbit – including developing a powerful rocket for this job – means years pass before it lights up our bulbs and cars. But if it works? It can illuminate cities, power electric cars, and quietly transform our concept of renewable energy – without even casting a shadow.
