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Japan turns orbital bombardment into a good thing
Solar energy is attractive because of its abundance and negligible impact on the environment, but reliably collecting it in large quantities can be pretty tricky. The most common method of using ground-based, stationary solar collectors only works during the day when the sun is overhead, and even then simple cloud cover can diminish how much energy is ultimately collected. Researchers over at Japan's national space agency, JAXA, are taking the easy route to circumvent these terrestrial concerns — collect solar power from space!
The idea of using satellites to collect solar energy and then beam it in the form of a laser down to a power plant isn't entirely new, but JAXA's method of using a mix of chromium-infused ceramic material to trap sunlight, as well as neodymium to convert solar energy to laser energy, has had outstanding results. It's claimed 42% of the solar energy collected can be converted into laser form. Theoretically, that means nearly half of the amount of solar energy the satellites manage to harvest in space — 24/7, without weather or nighttime to be concerned about — can then be transferred via laser to a ground-based plant.
Using solar collectors a few hundred feet long, researchers estimate that the amount of power generated would rival nuclear power plants. JAXA aims to have solar powered satellites shooting laser power back down at them by 2030.
Asahi, via Pink Tentacle
By BioTube at 1:22 AM ON 09/07/07
The main issue with beaming power from a satellite to a receiving station is attenuation of the laser due to the atmosphere(same issue with pure terrestrial power beaming).
By lordradn at 4:26 PM ON 09/07/07
attenuation aside, these satellites wll be in geo-synchronous orbits over the equator. If the intent of putting them into space is to avoid cloud cover and planet-shadowing, we won't be doing a good job of it. at the equator, we will still have 12 hours of planet shadow (nightfall). It seems placing these power stations at the poles would be better. The ambient heat from the lasers my raise the temperature of th poles though. Perhaps just above the arctic circle?
By brucevoris at 12:00 PM ON 09/08/07
lordradn:
I work on GEO sync satellites. In a GEO sync orbit, a satellite is in full Sun most of the time. Remember, it is ~22,000 miles above the Earth's surface, so the Earth's shadow is much reduced. Also, because of the inclination of the Earth relative to the ecliptic plane, full eclipse only occurs during an 'eclipse season' (a total of ~45 days on either side of the equinox) that occur in the Fall and Spring. Right now, for example, GEO satellites are just beginning the Fall eclipse season as we near the Fall Equinox. During these 'eclipses' the satellite experiences a shadow, lasting at most 72 minutes.
There are also lunar eclipses, but these are less often and vary depending on the specific orbital slot.
By bannyrooster at 6:07 AM ON 11/29/07
What effect could that have on Earth and what if it gets knocked off target and the laser goes crazy on a city or something?
By Tyerade at 11:52 AM ON 11/09/09
Why not beam to the middle of the Mohave or similar which rarely has any cloudcover?
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Tyerade:
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