China wants to put a solar farm in space by 2025
According to China's state-backed Science and Technology Daily, Chinese scientists plan to build and launch small power stations into the stratosphere between 2021 and 2025, upgrading to a megawatt-level station in 2030 and a gigawatt-level facility high above the earth before 2050. Without atmospheric interference or night-time loss of sunlight, these space-based solar farms could provide an inexhaustible source of clean energy. The China Academy of Space Technology Corporation claims such a set-up could "reliably supply energy 99 per cent of the time, at six-times the intensity" of solar installations on earth.
China's proposal suggests converting solar energy into electricity in space, before beaming back to Earth using a microwave or laser and feeding into the grid via a ground receiving system.
Also at the Sydney Morning Herald.
See also: China Wants to Build the First Power Station in Space
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Tuesday February 19 2019, @01:54PM (6 children)
This is a stupid idea, completely unrealistic in terms of cost, maintenance, everything. Is it April 1st in China.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:25PM (3 children)
I think you're right. Too bad they didn't learn from the disasterous 3 Georges Dam project!
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:35PM (1 child)
Who are these three people named George?
Why is the project 'damned' instead of 'cursed' ?
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:08PM
You're British, right? Surprised you don't know that one. Britain did Tea Act. Which China loved because the Tea came from China. But, Americans didn't want it (expensive & bad quality). George 3 said, drink up or else. We did the "or else." Known as, revolution!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @07:19PM
When they said "just stupid", they really weren't calling you.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:37PM (1 child)
You describe exactly why such a project the support of politicians and then act surprised why it would get national resources allocated to it.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:14PM
> why it would get national resources allocated to it.
I didnt RTFA - has this really got national resources allocated or is it just a puff piece in some news outlet (albeit a state owned one).
I didn't want to accept their cookies.