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Director General of the European Space Agency Josef Aschbacher proposed to transfer solar energy from space to Earth using microwaves or high-power lasers from a satellite. We tell the main thing about the Solaris project
What’s going on
- According to Josef Aschbacher, space-based solar power (SBSP) can be an important step towards carbon neutrality and energy independence in Europe. It is assumed that the energy sources will be solar panels in orbit, which collect energy and send it to Earth using microwaves or powerful lasers.
- According to the estimates of the British consulting company Frazer-Nash, investments in research and development of the SBSP satellite prototype could amount to €15,8 billion. the cost of building and operating satellites will decrease as they become available, to €9,8 billion and €3,5 billion, respectively.
- Frazer-Nash estimates that 54 SBSP satellites are needed to send enough power to Earth. With a total cost of €418 billion, the project will save €601 billion in energy production on Earth, as well as reduce CO₂ emissions.
- Another consulting company, Roland Berger, estimated the cost of one satellite at €33,4 billion.
- In addition, Roland Berger experts emphasize, the SBSP satellite will be larger than any other satellite. Its area will be 15 km², and its weight will be more than 4,5 thousand tons. To reduce the weight at launch, the satellite must be launched disassembled and assembled in orbit using autonomous robots – but now there is no such technological possibility.
- Roland Berger also doubts the ability to transmit gigawatts of electricity over such a long distance using existing technologies.
- Physicist Casey Handmer has calculated that due to heat loss, logistics costs, and the complexity of building in space, SBSP technology will cost thousands of times more than traditional electricity generation.
What does it mean
To collect solar energy in space, you need a special huge satellite equipped with solar panels. The panels generate electricity, which is transmitted to Earth using high-frequency radio waves. On Earth, a special antenna converts radio waves into electricity and supplies current to the electrical grid.
Among the advantages of this technology are the constant access to sunlight and the absence of interference due to bad weather. At the same time, there are a number of problems. Solar systems weigh a lot, so they need to be sent into space disassembled, where autonomous robots will already assemble the structure in orbit – this requires a much more advanced AI than exists today. In addition, space launches emit large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Also in space, the panels will wear out quickly due to collisions with space debris and exposure to direct sunlight. Finally, there is still no technology that could transfer huge amounts of energy to Earth at such a great distance.
However, in different countries since the 1970s, scientists continue to develop ideas for transmitting electricity from space to Earth. For example, the Japanese space research agency Japan Space Systems plans to introduce a space-based solar power system by 2025. The station will use a satellite to collect solar energy and send it to Earth.
In addition, in the UK, the government is considering a proposal to build a solar power plant in space worth £16 billion. And in China, it is planned to test a space power plant as early as 2028.