Space Based Solar Power
The Future of Solar Power
Our planet is witnessing an intense phase of climate change. It is believed that more than thirty-five of the world’s major cities would be underwater by 2050. Due to rise in emissions, the global atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentration is continually increasing with global carbon-dioxide concentration being 419 parts per million. Moreover, the rise in carbon-dioxide concentration is continually causing rise in global surface temperature.
Scientists around the world are looking for alternatives — from better choices to non-polluting sources of energy. With greenhouse gases encircling the earth, non-renewables aren’t the first choice anymore. Not only the first choice but not even a choice and we are in dire need of more alternatives to sustain ourselves. The pledges in the form of net zero emissions have already been made by various nations.
Wind energy, hydropower, and many more alternatives have been proposed. Even solar energy has proved to be the most viable alternative. But the problem with solar energy is that it is also dependent upon solar rays throughout the period. When scientists were thinking of collecting solar energy, its search took them into space.
Before jumping on space based solar power, let’s understand the meaning of solar energy first.
Solar energy — is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar power to generate electricity. Photovoltaic and solar thermal electricity are among its types.
Space based solar power — is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space by solar power satellites and distributing it to Earth.
Parts
Space based solar power consists of three elements/parts — collecting solar energy with mirrors or solar cells; wireless power transmission to earth via microwave, and receiving the power on earth with the help of rectenna, a microwave antenna.
How will it work — Proposed
It consists of satellites in geostationary orbit. The function of these satellites is to absorb radiation from our sun and direct it down to our planet in the form of microwave radiation. Moreover, the energy is clean, carbon-free, and continuous.
You might be thinking, “It’s not possible!” But it’s possible even today according to Physics. But the problem is that the process is too costly to implement.
NASA’s SERT went about developing a solar power satellite concept for a future gigawattspace power system, to provide electrical power by converting the Sun’s energy and beaming it to Earth’s surface, and provided a conceptual development path that would utilize current technologies.
Recent Research — A Tokyo-based Japan Space Systems announced that by the year 2025, it’ll test a space solar power system that makes use of satellite to collect the sun’s energy, and send it back to earth.
Even UK has come forward with its own proposal for a space solar satellite by 2040.
As of 2020, Space based solar power is being actively pursued by Japan, China, Russia, India, the United Kingdom and the US.
Similarly, when talking about utilising the energy of the sun, the name Dyson Sphere comes to mind. It’s a hypothetical concept.
A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure that completely encompasses a star and captures a large percentage of its solar power output.
Well, Dyson sphere is a futuristic concept and it will take time, resources, and technology to transform it into a reality.
For now, let’s concentrate on Space based solar power.
Advantages
You might be wondering why we are concentrating so much upon space based solar energy. Well, there are reasons for that, and these have been summarised below:
- Solar energy availability is always there in space as it is always solar noon there. Space has roughly ten times more sunlight than is available on the surface of the earth.
- More sunlight could be captured due to the absence of limiting factors such as atmosphere, clouds, dust, etc.
- Power could be redirected to any region quickly.
- Reduced plant and wildlife interference.
- It will help in less release of poisonous gases due to the use of combustibles.
Disadvantages
Every new initiative has advantages as well as disadvantages and neglecting the disadvantages wouldn’t give a complete picture. So, we’ll consider the disadvantages too and these have been summarised below:
- Maintenance is difficult as astronauts are prone to harmful radiation in space.
- Space is hostile due to the presence of debris, solar flares, etc.
- The process is costly, eg, launching a satellite requires a great sum of money. But to overcome this scientists suggested launching from moon instead. Launch costs from the Moon are potentially much lower than from Earth, due to the lower gravity and lack of atmospheric drag.
- The energy loses during several phases of conversion from photons to electrons to photons
Primary sources are the demand of present times instead of secondary sources. Many initiatives like the Conference of Parties, REN 21, and many more talks about climate change. These initiatives are all inclusive of global energy policy multi-stakeholder network connecting governments, international organisations, industry associations, science and academia, and civil society and are working towards the goal of transforming society into a renewable dependent society. Many treaties are already signed up in the field of the solar alliance, for instance International Solar Alliance.
Space based solar power would be a step ahead and would prove to be a boon for nations that aren’t in the tropics, and have to rely completely on non-renewables in meeting their demands. Moreover, it would be a leap in terms of technological advancement, as energy is what keeps us evolving…..
