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posted by martyb on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:22AM   Printer-friendly
from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong-with-a-gigawatt-laser-in-space? dept.

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


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  • (Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Tuesday February 19 2019, @01:54PM (6 children)

    by PiMuNu (3823) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @01:54PM (#803449)

    This is a stupid idea, completely unrealistic in terms of cost, maintenance, everything. Is it April 1st in China.

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  • (Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:25PM (3 children)

    by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:25PM (#803484) Homepage Journal

    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)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:35PM (#803491) Journal

      Too bad they didn't learn from the disasterous 3 Georges Dam project!

      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

        by realDonaldTrump (6614) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:08PM (#803515) Homepage Journal

        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

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @07:19PM (#803619)

      When they said "just stupid", they really weren't calling you.

  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:37PM (1 child)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:37PM (#803493) Journal

    This is a stupid idea, completely unrealistic in terms of cost, maintenance, everything.

    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

      by PiMuNu (3823) on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:14PM (#803518)

      > 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.