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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
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Tuesday February 19 2019, @06:03PM (1 child)
That depends a lot on the exact design, but they're talking about microwave power rather than laser, so the bird would be safe. It's probable the cows grazing in the field under the antenna would also be safe. But the bird is moving fast enough that it wouldn't even get warmed significantly.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Tuesday February 19 2019, @06:26PM
The plans they were talking about 40+ years ago involved a grid of wires as the microwave receiver. You stick them up on 10 foot poles and how much energy is underneath depends on your system efficiency. With a well built system you could graze livestock underneath it without any problems at all.
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.