Space-based solar power could help Europe reach net-zero by 2050 by reducing the need for land-based renewable energy.
      • cecilkorik@lemmy.caEnglish
        72·
        23 days ago

        Are they really losses when the leaking, unfocused energy turns all buildings in a kilometer radius into microwave ovens? Just fill them up with popcorn packets and invite everyone over for movie night. We could watch one of the James Bond movies where the villain has an orbital deathray. I think there’s at least a couple of them.

      • Gladaed@feddit.orgEnglish
        3·
        22 days ago

        It’s less about the loss and more about the space required for the receiver and the environmental hazard

    • Otter@lemmy.caEnglish
      6·
      23 days ago

      The article is actually discussing a feasibility study for the far future (25 years from now as per the article):

      For the first time, researchers from King’s College London have assessed the possible impact that generating solar energy in space could have for Europe. They found it could cut energy battery storage needs by more than two-thirds.

      The study, published in Joule, analysed the potential of a design by NASA for solar generation, which is planned to be in use by 2050. The findings show the design could also save money by reducing the cost of the whole power system in Europe by up to 15%, including energy generation, storage and network infrastructure costs – an estimated saving of 35.9 billion euros per year.

      Space-based solar power generation involves in-space continuous collection of solar energy. This involves placing large solar panels on satellites in orbit, where they are exposed to much more sunlight and can continuously collect energy without being affected by clouds or the day-night cycle. This energy would then be transmitted to one or more stations on Earth. It is then converted to electricity and delivered to the energy grid or batteries for storage.

      It’s a cool idea and I’d imagine we’d need an array spanning the globe rather than just over one continent

      • snooggums@lemmy.worldEnglish
        10·
        23 days ago

        (25 years from now as per the article)

        Anything 20 years or more away is a pipe dream that isn’t likely to happen anywhere close to speculation.

  • bitjunkie@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    22 days ago

    So could a fucking Dyson sphere. This article is PopMech-tier speculative trash. A flying car in every driveway, any day now since the 1960s…

  • Kissaki@feddit.orgEnglish
    81·
    22 days ago

    This energy would then be transmitted to one or more stations on Earth. It is then converted to electricity and delivered to the energy grid or batteries for storage.

    How is the energy transmitted to Earth?