Space Solar aims to develop a kilometer-wide satellite equipped with solar panels and a system of mirrors to concentrate sunlight and transmit it to Earth as radio waves.
Simulation of a satellite with solar panels in orbit. Photo: iLexx/iStock
UK startup Space Solar has announced a breakthrough in wireless power transmission technology, a major step toward realizing the idea of generating solar power in space. The achievement will bring the company closer to its goal of providing gigawatts of clean energy to Earth using solar panels in orbit, Interesting Engineering reported on April 7.
Space Solar is the world’s first company to use a 360-degree wireless power transmission system. Their HARRIER test system addresses a key challenge in space solar power generation. Traditional systems require large swivels to continuously align solar panels with the Sun and receivers on Earth. HARRIER enables power transmission in all directions without moving parts, improving both efficiency and reliability.
Space Solar proposes building a kilometer-wide satellite equipped with solar panels and a system of mirrors to concentrate sunlight. The electricity produced would be converted into high-frequency radio waves and transmitted to fixed receivers on the ground. This would provide an uninterrupted supply of clean power at the gigawatt scale. Space Solar's system has received support from the British government and the European Space Agency. The achievement could significantly change the global energy production situation, opening the era of clean electricity from space.
Harnessing solar energy in space, where sunlight is uninterrupted, offers enormous potential to meet the world’s energy needs. Unlike terrestrial solar power, aerial power is limited by weather conditions, seasons, or time of day. While the idea has been around for a long time, the cost of launching a solar power system is a major obstacle. Space solar power comes with its own set of challenges. The scale of the project, both in terms of manufacturing and power transmission, requires technological advances. In addition, concerns around the safety of high-power wireless power transmission and the potential impact on space debris need to be carefully addressed.
An Khang (According to Interesting Engineering )
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