Related Sections: Future Tech
Solar array in space could provide all the world's energy
Lately we've been hearing a lot about alternative ways of generating electricity, and the idea of a solar power-gathering satellite sounds like the best plan yet. Its proponents say an orbital power station placed in a position where it's constantly bathed in unfiltered sunlight could provide enough power to run the whole world seven times over. It would employ kilometer-wide solar panels, beaming the energy down to earth via microwaves.
Because of the rising costs of energy, the idea of launching a huge solar-power satellite has become more practical within the past five years. The proposed 3000-ton behemoth, ten times heavier than the International Space Station, would require 120 launches to lift all its parts into orbit. Researchers estimate that even after overcoming that hurdle, the satellite could still pay for itself in a year after construction is complete.
Via InventorSpot
By mediumsteve at 4:31 PM ON 10/16/07
Um...no mention of possible drawbacks?!?!...again!?!?
Microwaves cook things. Would there be any spurious energy escaping from the beam-down? In radar systems they call that "side-lobe radiation" and it's dangerous enough that you can't be outside when the radar is operating.
If heat energy is a by-product, what effect would it have on the atmosphere? Wouldn't that cause storms?
What if the thing goes off its orbit by a tad...does it then become an unintentional energy weapon?
What about space-based energy weapons? How similar is this? Could it be a front for technologies we might otherwise resist developing?
This is a promising idea, especially when the greedheads are out promoting Nuclear power, with all possible Sophistry. But let's not evaporate the baby with the bathwater here.
By Dazzler69 at 8:03 AM ON 10/18/07
This is a bad idea. Don't they know Cobra is waiting for a chance to use this as a weapon against us? Did we not learn from the weather dominator?
By fhaq at 1:43 PM ON 10/18/07
All good points. How about a much more simple problem. Micro debris knocking it off target. How fast could this thing re-align and what safety measures to prevent people beeing heated like a swanson dinner. I'm pretty sure that would taste about the same when I think about it.
By GerardManley at 2:03 PM ON 10/18/07
Well, whether mediumsteve likes it or not (no matter how unsophisticated the arguement for is) nuclear energy WILL take over as the next major source of energy output. It's already started.
But this article is disconcerting in the sense that it does not mention what preparations will be made for any accidental miss-beams of energy. I wonder if there couldn't be a middle ground, i.e. a really TALL tower (which would suck for maintenance guys, but probably safer for the population at large).
By IronJedi at 2:15 PM ON 10/18/07
Some of these very same issues were addressed 26 years ago in a comic book of all places: Iron Man v.1, issues 142-143. Talk about prescient.
By richardbush at 10:54 PM ON 10/18/07
Any solar power array would use a self-collimating beam. This means that it can not remain focused without feedback from the rectennae. Thus if the beam misses the rectennae it looses its focus and becomes harmless, so there is no possibility of harm to people or animals near the rectennae. Since the focus is on the rectennae, it is also harmless to birds or airplanes flying overhead.
By drkhyron at 1:38 AM ON 10/19/07
The receiving array for microwave power transmission is huge. The energy density is relatively low. This means the danger is also low. You could probably stand in the middle of the receiving array and not even get a suntan.
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
drkhyron:
The receiving array for microwave power transmission is huge. The energy density is relatively low. This means th...More »