Scientists make strides in beaming solar power from space
The idea of powering humanity by gathering an endless supply of solar energy from space has taken a huge step towards becoming a reality. Scientists working for JAXA, Japan's space administration , have announced a major breakthrough in wireless power transmission ... in that they've actually been able to do it with a high degree of accuracy for once. The team reportedly beamed 1.8 kilowatts, enough juice to power an electric tea kettle, more than 50 meters to a small receiver without any wires. Up next: scaling the technology for use in tomorrow's orbital solar farms.
The researchers were able to do so by first converting the electrical signal to microwaves, then beaming them to a remote receiver, and finally converting them back into electrons. This successful experiment is the first time scientists have been able to move electrons over any appreciable distance with such a high degree of accuracy, one JAXA researcher explained to the AFP .
JAXA has been diligently working on this technology for years as part of the agency's SSPS ( Space Solar Power Systems ) effort. The program aims to harness the constant supply of solar energy directly from space using orbital solar farms, then beaming it back to Earth (and into a global grid) via microwave transmission. What's more, these orbital arrays would never have to deal with obscuring cloud cover or darkened nights as their terrestrial counterparts do.
Of course, the SSPS is still far closer to science fiction than science fact but JAXA's latest success clears one of the biggest and most fundamental hurdles facing the program: delivering power from space without having to run an extension cord out to Low Earth Orbit.
[Image Credit: JAXA]
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This is the solution that we need to really make solar power viable.
More than just solar. Space based solar power is the only realistic way to make Hydrogen fuel cell technology work efficiently. Hydrogen fuel cells are energy transfer technology rather than energy production technology. Since the production of hydrogen from water requires extremely large amounts of electricity, production of that electricity is a big holdup in making fuel cells into a major source of motive power. Space based solar would produce effectively unlimited amounts of electricity.
TTGA, I could see this as something in the future that could be clean efficient energy and it is so abundant.
Yes Cerenkov, I know the sun makes me move...... into the shade.
This idea could really make a change in everything if and when it is perfected in the future.
I suppose that some on the left would fear that such na thing could be weaponized and worse yet, give America some huge strategic advantage over everyone else. That would not be the transformation of us that they had in mind.