So, Can Solar Panels Really Power the Earth?
Well, the answer is a complicated, contradictory yes… and no. While shooting solar panels into space sounds like a great idea in theory, we don’t currently have a way to transmit the power wirelessly to Earth. Though, if implemented, these solar panels would still absorb the sun’s energy even if it is dark or light on Earth.
Since the first solar panel was invented in the 1950s, they’ve been used by researchers, military, and the California Institute of Technology, to name a few.
And, for a brief period (from 1960-1970), it was “investigated extensively,” but never yielded cost-effective results.
Science Fiction to Fact
Caltech, the team working on the Space Solar Power Project, advocates for a new type of panel that is lighter and more compact than its predecessors. Each tile can harvest solar energy. The hope is that the team releases several of these into Earth’s orbit, so they can gather sunlight for 24 hours a day.
Solar Power in Space
Currently, the first space solar power flight is scheduled for late 2022 on a commercial spacecraft. Though it won’t be the full-scale thing, it’ll be able to provide insight into the feasibility of implementation at a smaller scale. If this succeeds, we could be talking replacing the use of nuclear or coal power.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, we are not yet at the point in which we can shoot solar panels into space to power the earth. However, in a few years, we may have a better idea of how much an experiment like this would cost – and it still may be unreasonable. For now, switching the roofing of your home to solar panels – and convincing your friends to do the same – can help to reduce your carbon footprint, and in turn, the earth’s.
Resources & Further Reading
Ravisetti, M. (2021, November 6). How space solar panels could power the Earth with 24/7 clean energy. CNET. Retrieved November 7, 2021, from https://www.cnet.com/news/how-space-solar-panels-could-power-the-earth-with-247-clean-energy/.
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