The Land of the Rising Sun has been making headlines with its latest venture, and yes, it actually involves the sun. Thanks to an innovative approach, futuristic energy will arrive from orbit, as space solar satellites will be beaming power to Earth. This approach will make all those science fiction dreams come true and change the renewable energy industry forever.
The Land of the Rising Sun’s latest venture
Mankind has realized the implications of relying on fossil fuels for power for too long and has thus turned to greener pastures, or rather, greener energies. Renewable energy sources have been the topic of conversation across numerous industries worldwide, as they are a viable alternative to burning fossil fuels due to having little to no carbon emissions.
Examples of these sources include biomass, hydropower, wind, geothermal, and solar. However, while these renewables all have tremendous benefits, they are not without their disadvantages. This is why many pioneers have started looking beyond Earth for solutions, including the Land of the Rising Sun, better known as Japan. According to the news platform BGR, Japan’s latest venture includes launching a satellite into orbit, which will send solar energy back to Earth. This venture is called OHISAMA (which means ‘sun’ in Japanese).
Beaming futuristic energy to power Earth
The OHISAMA venture will reportedly launch sometime in 2025. The lightweight satellite of 400 pounds will be launched 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth, where it will harvest sunlight with a two-square-meter solar panel. The harvested solar energy will then be converted into microwaves and beamed to a receiving antenna on Earth. The energy will inevitably be converted into power. According to BGR, the venture’s initial output will be approximately 1 kW.
It may not sound like much, but this satellite’s purpose is to test the proof of concept of space solar technology. The team will be able to test the beams’ accuracy, as well as the ground systems’ ability to receive and convert. The OHISAMA venture is one of the first field tests of this type of technology. However, Japan might have some competition, as many people have been testing space solar energy.
According to Freethink, the billionaire Baiju Bhatt and his new company, Aetherflux, have also set their sights on space solar energy. While the company plans to launch demonstration technology only in 2026, the chance of making fiction a reality could be more in their favor, as they have the funding ($50 million’s worth to be exact).
Solving all the traditional obstacles faced on Earth
Traditional solar power technology faces efficiency challenges due to day-to-night transitions and weather dependency, and requires more upkeep due to severe weather conditions. Space solar satellites, in comparison, could provide Earth with uninterrupted, clean power, as there are none of these concerns in space.
However, we are still far from realising this dream, as it comes with a price – literally. According to NASA, space-based solar power could cost around 61 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared with as little as 5 cents per kilowatt-hour for Earth-based solar or wind energy. Another obstacle to overcome is ensuring the precise beaming from the satellites back to Earth. In the case of the OHISAMA venture, Japan will be taking it one step at a time.
While Japan is laying the groundwork, and other companies such as Aetherflux rush to get ahead in the competition, one thing remains certain about space solar satellites: It has great potential to revolutionize the renewable energy industry. It may not happen in the next five or ten years, but soon, Earth could have consistent, clean power even when the sun is not shining, placing us one step closer to achieving zero carbon.
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