In a world that is rushing to get rid of anything that causes carbon emissions, solar energy has been one of the top alternatives. From farm solar panels to the actual traditional solar panels, we now have space solar power. This is when energy is generated by the sun from space and transmitted to Earth. Researchers see it as feasible because the sun is consistent and there are no weather changes or seasons that can affect it.
A future where energy is taken from space and beamed down on Earth does not sound like a bad idea; however, some say it is too far-fetched. The idea of energy being fetched from space is not new; it goes back to 1941 when science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote a short story about it. Some of these science developments today come from science fiction and researchers have managed to execute them in real life.
How does space-based solar power operate scientifically?
According to CNN and a brief explanation I made above, the name is straightforward: harnessing solar energy from space to the earth. In other words, huge solar power satellites are manufactured and taken to space. As the sun hits them, energy is generated and then sent to Earth for energy consumption. It sounds really far-fetched; however, experts believe it is feasible.
A scientific and technology-based company called Caltech and one of its Space Solar Power Demonstrators (SSPD) technology testers have been able to showcase how this initiative can be implemented. The goal is to supply the earth with consistent energy, especially in parts of the world and regions where energy generation has been a problem for decades.
The reason why the Caltech team led by Ali Hajimiri, Bren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering and co-director of SSPP, is confident in this development is that the sun is always available in space. Unlike on Earth, we face different seasons and weather patterns, and some parts of the world do not have enough sunlight to generate enough energy; therefore, in space, it is the total opposite, hence the push for this idea.
Microwave Array for Power transfer Low-orbit Experiment shortened as MAPLE is working alongside the SSPP, Hajimiri says,
“Through the experiments we have run so far, we received confirmation that MAPLE can transmit power successfully to receivers in space. We have also been able to program the array to direct its energy toward Earth, which we detected here at Caltech. We had, of course, tested it on Earth, but now we know that it can survive the trip to space and operate there.”
Globally, governments and businesses see space-based solar energy as having enormous potential
There is so much support coming from the government and other companies, despite other individuals criticising the development. This could be because both the government and companies see the need for a change in energy sources. Additionally, if the proper technological equipment can be made or developed, it will push the project to greater heights.
Another thing is that the globe will not need to worry about energy decreasing or depleting. It is consistent. On theory and on paper, this idea makes much more sense and this has caused the government to be optimistic. Martin Soltau, CEO of the UK-based company Space Solar, expressed that if they get support from the government, it will be very significant.
Challenges associated with building a space-based solar energy panel
All projects, scientific or not, have challenges to implement them. In this case, the gap between concept and commercialisation remains enormous. In theory, it makes sense and practically it does too. The only problem, according to CNN, is that building something big—and this is twice the size of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world—is not easy, stated the UK Space Agency’s Maheshwarappa. Therefore, there are still quite a number of things to figure out.