Have you ever wondered why mankind is so fascinated by space? Perhaps it demonstrates the human desire to push boundaries and explore. Whatever the case may be, it has inspired new generations of scientists, artists, and thinkers on many occasions. This is evident with the first-ever orbital solar plant that will be able to power the entire planet by harvesting 100 billion kWh of energy from space. So not only does space inspire us, but it also provides a unique opportunity for technological advancement.
The country behind the first-ever orbital solar plant
Solar energy is a popular renewable energy solution, and the photovoltaics of today have become highly efficient compared to those from almost 30 years ago. However, photovoltaics are still unable to achieve 100% efficiency 24/7 due to unpredictable weather conditions and the absence of sunlight at night. This is why China began thinking outside the box (and the planet) to find solutions to harvest uninterrupted solar energy.
China has yet again proven how ambitious they are after announcing its plan to utilize rockets to construct solar power plants in space. A senior Chinese scientist described the project as “another Three Gorges Dam project above the Earth.” The Three Gorges Dam project is already a testimony to the country’s dedication to renewable energy solutions. The dam is the largest hydropower project in the world and produces nearly 100 billion kWh of power annually.
Space is a more desirable environment to harness solar energy
The space-based power plants will be constructed more than 20,000 miles (32,000 km) above the Earth’s surface and will reportedly be approximately 0.6 miles (1 km) across when fully constructed. The Chinese scientists’ ambition may seem mad, but there is reason in their madness. By constructing power plants in an environment that is unaffected by day-night cycles or seasons, they will have access to constant energy.
These power plants will also be exposed to higher energy densities in space. After all, the energy density in space is 10 times more than the average density of the Earth’s surface, which is naturally more than what traditional roof-mounted photovoltaics will harvest.
“Imagine installing a solar array 1km wide along the 36,000km geostationary orbit. The energy collected in one year would be equivalent to the total amount of oil that can be extracted from the Earth.” – Long Lehao, a rocket scientist and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).
We might not be able to see the orbital solar plant in action so soon
Sometimes bigger dreams require bigger timelines. The project will become a reality once the required improvements have been made in heavy-lift rocket technology, which is used to haul materials into space. Other innovative technologies will have to be explored to relay the energy as efficiently as possible from space to Earth. Long’s team created the Long March-9 (CZ-9) for this purpose.
Long describes the Long March-9 (CZ-9) as a reusable heavy-lift rocket that can reach 110 meters and mentions that its primary function will be to construct power plants in space. China began construction of the first experimental space solar power station in Bishan, Chongqing, in June 2021.
It might still take a few years before these power plants will power the Earth. If the Three Gorges Dam project took 18 years to complete, then we are in for a long wait, seeing as this project is much more complex. But it has tremendous potential to revolutionize the renewable energy sector.