Solar panels in space could cut Europe's renewable energy needs by 80%
Space-based solar power could help Europe reach net-zero by 2050 by reducing the need for land-based renewable energy.
cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/36081990
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This energy would then be transmitted to one or more stations on Earth.
And how do you suppose to do that?
Beam the power from space like they do in Mirai Shounen Conan? Or space shuttles with batteries? Or a giant cable that somehow doesn't break?
It's not possible.
Naw, you just beam it back to earth as a laser. That way you could highjack the signal and fill a house with popcorn kernals a to start a huge neighborhood block party.
That’s a real genius plan.
Deathray!
Feasible? Only time will tell. Possible? Caltech did it two years ago. Look up MAPLE. Wireless energy transfer to/from space was achieved.
At what scale? Milliwatts? Watts? On cloudy days?
This seems very much to fall into the "technically" possible, but impossible to scale realm.
RD1 generates power 99% of the year and collects solar radiation by autonomously redirecting its reflectors toward a concentrator to focus sunlight throughout each day. RD2 uses flat panels, with solar cells facing away from Earth and microwave emitters facing toward the Earth. RD2 generates power 60% of the year due to its limited capability to reposition itself or redirect solar radiation toward its solar cells.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230017756/downloads/ASCEND%20SBSP%20Final%2005162024.pdf
Microwaves or even Masers. This is nothing new, lot's of studies and experiments. It's not infeasible, efficiency not that bad either. But solarpanles on earth have only advantages, especially integrated in roofs or walls.
It would probably be done with lasers. Its not perfect tech rn but it is possible. If not the most efficient for its price
