Is the transfer of solar energy to space possible? It looks like it is! This would allow using the Sun to supply the Earth with energy in an even more efficient way, due to the much greater intensity of sunlight.
As the plans are implemented, the major benefit for the Earth would be the chance to become CO2 neutral. It is also a step towards total energy independence. Further details as well as plans for this project are going to be discussed in November, at the meeting of the Ministers responsible for space travels.
In the next few decades the vision of extracting energy straight from space could become a reality. The idea has been around for long enough and the race to become a pioneer of this realisation is well underway. Chinese specialists among others, are working on the project, having already tested the most important technologies and planning to put the project into practice in about 13 years. The British specialists are also working on developing their own system with great enthusiasm, and American scientists have been exploring the possibility of using such technologies for some time. The use of these projects is mostly planned for the 2040s and 2050s.
According to the plans, the satellite is to be placed at an altitude of more than 35,000 km, in a so-called geostationary orbit. This solution will provide the delivery of electricity to the grid 24 hours a day with antennas located on Earth capturing it. The total cost of the project is estimated at between €8 billion and more than €31 billion for 30 years.
