How space-based solar power can save the planet | FT

Space launch costs are dropping rapidly. Solar panels are cheaper than ever. Could space-based solar power soon be price-competitive with nuclear? Promoted as a zero-carbon solution, classified military space planes have also been conducting experiments into wireless power transmission. The FT's Peggy Hollinger looks at whether space-based solar power can move beyond science fiction.

#solarpower

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[Misclaneous]

Seems like the price of space-based solar energy only really needs to compare with nuclear before it becomes competitive for large scale use. Certainly an interesting concept.

[bobshakor]

Orbital solar farms along with space energy storage capacity, comprised of flywheels, could be employed as laser propulsion system to power spacecraft to other planets.
The design could also supply power to hard to reach areas on earth.

[thatsnotmyname-tz]

Tesla figured out beamed power around 100 years ago.
Why make it sound like this big mystery??

[vspatmx]

If Musk finds it crazy then it can only mean one thing.
Its the future and will happen over a period of time and the idea must Be explored and definitely not discarded.

[Pongant]

This documentary here was actually really well done, and excellently researched.

[thesuit]

I remember this from Sim City. Always tried to build one in hopes of actually seeing the corresponding disaster...

[joshuafletcher]

Economics shouldn't be as important as survival, and that's literally what's going to be at stake if we don't start working together to save the planet. there is not one solution. we basically have to use all means available to us to generate power which will in turn help us survive whilst maintaining our living standards.

[morpher]

Unlike Tesla's idea, this still has a buyer and a seller. Tesla would want you to beam it down to the ENTIRE planet, and have anyone on the planet be able to receive the power. Tesla was using much longer waves at Colorado springs. Also, Tesla needed only a receiver, as the cosmos was the transmitter.

[madebi]

This is a very nicely edited video, hats off to the producers

[zyme]

2:10 one farm enough for 1million homes... There's approximately 8 billion people in the world. Let's pretend you want this to be the only source of power that provides energy for homes. Let's try and do some rough maths. Let's say 4 people per home that's 2 billion homes. The solar farm provides enough power for 1 million homes. So that would mean you'd need 2000 solar space farms. 2:20 The ground receiver needs to be 6km wide that would be 12000km. That's larger than the circumference of the moon. The amount of land you would need to use wouldn't be practical without taking up farmland or destroying natural habitats.

I think overall when combined with other energy sources. It has potential to contribute to the global energy needs. It's a huge project to undertake

[devpatel]

Great video on Space based solar power 👍

[serversurfer]

*"…so the receiver would be about 6km in diameter."*
_"Wow! A 6km radius is pretty big!"_

🤦‍♂️

[jacoboku]

James Webb telescope seems a piece of cake in comparison, but the idea is beautiful

[backpocketmedia]

Where did the animation for this video come from? Did you create them FT? @financialtimes

[jacoboku]

It's only that a power RF generator in space is a huge maintenance free challenge

[keliannesnape]

All I could hear repeating in my mind whilst watching this was "we just wanna charge you for something that should be free, or theres no point doing it"

[ekbergiw]

Fascinating presentation. Are there any issues with atmospheric activity that might change the reliability or vary the intensity of the beam? For instance, the increase in the electromagnetic activity of the daytime atmosphere interferes with AM signals and decreased activity at night allows for a larger radius for AM transmission. (Am reflection happens at greater altitude) Would this increased activity during the day interfere with penetrating radio waves from space in a similar way as it interferes with AM transmission?

[RicJr.Zambales]

How is its effect on the ozone layer and other environmental risks? Wouldn't this affect our weather patterns?

1. This will introduce more energy into our atmosphere than naturally received from the Sun, exceeding *natural* *energy* *budget.*

2. Could disrupt Earth's radiative balance.

3. Introducing a significant new energy source could trigger unforeseen and potentially destabilizing feedback mechanisms, leading to unpredictable climate change.

[Linkwii]

this is like you use magnified glass to cook ants.

[johnswolter]

Very interesting. Include considering Ukraine's Russian war experience, space based manufacturing, robotics, mining in space, SBSP being in the space environment, marketing electricity, & thinking at a planetary scale. It will need added science, military, cybersecurity, international law, governance, & economic analysis contributing to millions of decisions driving business & technology choices. Gaming simulations could be a useful for learning, scenario generation, & results testing tools. This in of itself could pay for the startup venture or should I say adventures. Case-methods would likely be overwhelmed by the volume of it all.