SPACE – The first laboratory demonstration has shown how solar power transmission from space works. The demonstration by UK-based startup Space Solar tested a special beam device that can transmit power 360 degrees wirelessly.
That’s important for future space-based power plants. This is because the position of the generator relative to the sun and the earth will change every day due to the rotation of our planet.
The exhibition is a key part of the CASSIOPeiA solar power plant concept that is being developed by Space Solar. The company expects that CASSIOPeiA could be in space within ten years, providing gigawatts of clean energy that is far more efficient than solar power plants on Earth.
“We are very excited to present the next step in our technology development,” Space Solar co-CEO Martin Soltau said in an emailed statement. According to him, Space Solar’s successful trial of 360-degree power transmission technology has ‘ marking an important moment in the company’s mission to revolutionize space-based solar power.
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CASSIOPeiA will be placed in geostationary orbit, a path approximately 36,000 kilometers above the Earth where the orbital speed of the satellite corresponds to the rotation speed of the Earth. This allows a spacecraft at that altitude to pass over a fixed area on Earth.
Although the display used in laboratory tests is only 0.5 meters wide, CASSIOPeiA will eventually be a large modular structure about 1.7 kilometers wide. The power plant consists of large, light solar panels and a set of mirrors that harvest sunlight.
CASSIOPeiA will be assembled in orbit by robots, and 68 launches of the SpaceX Starship megarocket will be required to send all the parts to space. The recently tested components will ensure that the giant satellite has a constant view of the Earth and the Sun to provide clean energy 24/7. Compare this to solar power plants on Earth, which only work during the day and are affected by bad weather.
The weakness of Earth-based power plants is a major concern, as they cannot ensure that the lights stay on in bad weather. Currently, the electricity network relies on nuclear power plants or gas and coal power plants as backup, but both technologies have their own problems.
Nuclear power plants produce potentially hazardous waste. Meanwhile, gas and coal-fired power plants are sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
“This successful trial is an important milestone in making space-based solar power a reality,” said UK Space Agency CEO Paul Bate.
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How CASSIOPeiA works
The electrical power generated by CASSIOPeiA will be converted into high frequency radio waves, which will be sent to Earth. The waves are then converted back into electrical power.
2024-04-17 13:06:33
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