Space-based Solar Power Generator

Friday, September 4, 2009, 14:24
Energy Research, Feature, General Science
3 comments

Space-based Solar Power

“It sounds like a science-fiction cartoon, but solar power generation in space may be a significant alternative energy source in the century ahead as fossil fuel disappears,” Kensuke Kanekiyo said from an interview. Kanekiyo is the managing director of the Institute of Energy Economics, a government research body.

Two of Japan’s top company, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and IHI Corporation, combine its power for the $21 Billion project! Both firms joined a research group that compose of 16 companies that will lead Japan to launch its 4 sq.km solar space station, designed for power generation and will transmit electricity to earth. The said project was calculated to operate for 30 long years.

The Solar Space Station is a breaking technology for world’s first space-based solar-powered generator that is capable of producing 1gigawatt of energy! Such power is big enough to supply the 294,000 homes below. The solar panel is best installed in space for an uninterrupted solar energy gathering, unlike on grounded design where clouds can hinder the sun, the power it generated from the Solar Space Station will be propagated down to earth. The launching is expected by year 2015.

It would be a great challenge for the Japanese to bring on the solar panels 34,000 km above earth and securing the facility from astray meteoroids which are a fatal threat to the entire system.

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