Electricity transmitted from solar panels located in space

Anicet Mbida 06:52, 07 June 2023

The innovation of the day may be the future of renewable energy. For the first time, electricity has been transmitted from solar panels in space.

We have been dreaming of this for years: installing solar power plants in space. That way, there will be no more clouds, no more night, no more atmosphere. So a sun that gives its maximum power 24 hours a day, whatever the weather. But until now, this has remained purely theoretical. Admittedly, we had already managed to transmit electricity wirelessly, on earth, with a beam of radio waves. But we always wondered if it was possible over hundreds of kilometers and especially from space.

Well, that's what researchers at the Caltech Institute in the United States have just proved. A rocket had taken off in January with their demonstrator. And in recent days, solar panels have been deployed. Electricity began to be converted into radio waves. And it was successfully transmitted to a receiver placed on the roof of their laboratory. This is a highly anticipated first, because it paves the way for what was until now only science fiction: space solar power plants.

What happens if there are clouds or planes?

A priori nothing! They use microwaves, so transmission should not be disrupted by obstacles or bad weather. Nor would it be dangerous for planes or birds.

However, for the moment, only a very small amount of energy has been transmitted. Just enough to light two LED bulbs. It will therefore be necessary to confirm the safety with greater potencies.

What's next? Create a real solar power plant in space?

Exactly. In fact, almost all countries are on the move. The European Space Agency has launched its work. The Japanese space agency will begin its experiments as early as next year. But it is China the most ambitious. It plans to have a first mini power plant operational as early as 2030. And to reach the power of a nuclear power plant in 2050. We are still talking about a square kilometer of solar panels in space. A huge structure to build in space. But if we wanted to create the equivalent on the ground, we would need an area of more than 20 km² of solar panels. We immediately understand the interest.