Based on an idea that can be traced to science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, China is developing a solar space station power generator that will orbit 36000km above the Earth. The electricity generated will then be transmitted back to Earth-based collectors as microwaves or lasers.
Asimov’s 1941 short story Reason, promulgates the concept of such a space solar station that harnesses the sun’s energy and converts it into electricity which is beamed to the Earth’s surface via microwaves. As reported on NDTV who cites PTI as the news source, Wang Xiji who belongs to the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the International Academy of Astronautics says that such a project is scientifically possible. If China is successful in creating such an orbiting power generator, then it would be really huge with collector panels of up to 6km².
Image credit: NASA
Xiji who has nearly 50 years of experience in space technology research, explains that the space solar station would be enormous area-wise, almost twice the size of New York Central Park or 12 times as much as Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The geosynchronous power generator would probably be visible from the Earth’s surface and appear like a star. Conventional solar power generators have the disadvantage of day and night cycles; but this space solar station should be able to collect the sun’s energy 99% of the time.
Space-based solar panels are more production efficient and have 10 times more electricity generation capability per unit area compared to Earth-based panels. Apart from China, the US and Japan are also vying to develop space solar stations and whichever country succeeds first in producing such technology will definitely gain strategic importance in the concerned field of research. A few hurdles in the way of this clean energy are the development of cost effective launch vehicles capable of carrying this solar station that is estimated to weigh around 10,000 tons, and also thinner and lighter solar panels.
China expects to pioneer the use of its orbiting space solar power generator by 2020. Such futuristic green technology will lower the need for non-renewable energy, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emission.