The Global Race to Harness Solar Power From Space
Several countries around the globe are racing to develop space-based solar power (SBSP) systems to harness solar power from space. On Earth, solar power has become a popular form of renewable energy production. However, tapping solar power is limited by night, cloud cover, atmospheric conditions, and seasonality. Roughly 30 per cent of all incoming solar radiation never makes it to ground level.…
Global nations are competing to create space-based solar power (SBSP) systems, aiming to capture solar energy from space to supplement Earth-based renewable sources. Solar power presents limitations on Earth due to factors like nighttime, clouds, and changing weather patterns. Approximately 30% of solar radiation never reaches the ground.
Meanwhile, space enjoys continuous sunlight. Several governments are pursuing SBSP projects to boost solar energy access and lessen reliance on land. The technology sends microwave energy from satellites orbiting Earth to large mirrors that collect sunlight. These mirrors are massive, spanning up to 3 kilometers and weighing over 80,000 metric tonnes.
Upon successful deployment, they could generate vast amounts of clean energy, potentially supplying remote areas without expanding traditional grids. Microwave signals can travel through adverse weather conditions without causing harm to birds or planes. Major players in SBSP development include China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan.
China's ZhuRi Chase the Sun program, the U.K.'s Space Solar project, and Japan's OHISAMA project are all aiming to pioneer SBSP technology. The U.S. is also exploring the concept, with Caltech and the Air Force Research Laboratory leading initiatives. In the U.K., Space Solar aims to launch two demonstration missions to transmit power via radio waves and demonstrate space-based construction.
With government funding of around $1.6 million, the firm plans to construct a 1.8km-wide structure, equipped with millions of table-sized satellites to collect sunlight around the clock. Star Catcher, backed by Elon Musk's SpaceX, recently demonstrated solar-powered beam transmission across a football stadium in Florida. Meanwhile, Overview Energy plans to develop an SBSP satellite constellation by 2030 to beam 1 GW of power to AI data centers.
China's Zhuri project has made significant strides in critical technologies for SBSP stations and microwave power transmission. Proponents argue that SBSP could accelerate clean power deployment and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, with minimal environmental impact. However, critics claim the technology is prohibitively expensive and overly complex, with commercial deployment expected between the 2030s and 2050s.
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