Imagine powering your computer, iPod, or refrigerator for that matter, by solar power originally gathered in space. The idea is increasingly appealing at a point in time when population is growing, natural resources dwindling and many consider energy scarcity a major national threat.
In October, the National Security Space Office of Advanced Concepts, also known as “Dreamworks”, released a study suggesting that collecting solar energy in space and beaming it to Earth is more feasible than ever.
By placing large solar arrays into space, gigawatts of electrical energy could be collected (without the interruption of nightfall or clouds) and then electromagnetically beamed to Earth. Receivers would transfer the power to the electrical grid.
There’s also potential for the energy to be supplied to remote areas on demand, during combat or as humanitarian aid.
Dreamworks conducted their feasibility study though an online, open-source forum, which drew the participation of some 170 scientists. SBSP aside, the format was reported to be extremely successful in that there was no cost and drew on expertise worldwide.
The exercise concluded that while significant technological obstacles remain to SBSP, next steps would require government funding to build a space-borne proof-of-concept demonstration within a decade.
The last time NASA considered SBSP was in 1997. The idea originated in the 1960s and was also studied during the 70s.
Power from the Final Frontier - The Guardian
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