Space solar energy, via laser or microwave, the great challenge of the 21st century

 

While it is true that scientists in the 20th century converted solar radiation into electrical energy through solar panels, in the 21st century, installing "solar farms in space" to bring energy to Earth will be the great event.

The advantage of installing solar stations in orbit, over terrestrial solar farms, is that the former would generate energy constantly. In Earth's orbit there are no nights or days, cloudiness or shadows, hence solar energy in space would be generated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Currently China and Japan lead the technological bet and their proposals are to install photovoltaic panels in space to capture solar energy and then send it through lasers, or microwaves to a station on Earth constantly. These rays or waves are later transformed into electricity, which is distributed to the network.

Surely the great science fiction writer Jules Verne would call these next 10 years the solar decade!

Lubio Lenin Cardozo, engineer and environmentalist. Photovoltaic Systems Installer