It is increasingly common to see how different organizations incorporate different forms of clean energy in their countries to favor the environment, moving away from other forms of energy that pollute more. One of the most classic is solar energy, where we can find in many places land full of photovoltaic panels whose purpose is to take advantage of the light that the Sun gives us to convert it into energy. However, this new technique stands out from the conventional and is that they have created solar satellites capable of sending this solar energy to our planet from space itself.
This sustainable project was born as a result of a donation of approximately 85 million euros to the Caltech company. The company itself believes that its project allows the transmission of solar energy wirelessly without affecting some aspects such as the weather or the time of day.
A technology available at all times
This would make solar energy available 24 hours a day to anywhere in the world. The transmission of this solar energy from space to Earth would be done thanks to the use of radio waves.
Today, we announce a $ 100M gift from Donald Bren, chairman of Irvine Company and a Caltech lifetime trustee, to form the Space-based Solar Power Project (SSPP).
The goal: Develop technology to capture solar power in space for use on Earth. https://t.co/SrJixD4i4B
– Caltech (@Caltech) August 3, 2021
In addition, this project would also serve as a method to accumulate this type of energy and use it when the situation requires it. Experiments are planned to see how this novel system works.
These satellites will be launched to see how they collect sunlight and then convert it into energy and then send it to Earth wirelessly using radio frequencies. Other lightweight structures will also be launched to help integrate all systems.
The system still needs to be further optimized
Although the project looks very promising, that does not mean that it does not have some limitations. Those in charge of their manufacture are still developing ways that allow them to gather enough energy.
They also want to improve the way in which energy is sent wirelessly to Earth, so that as little energy as possible is lost throughout this process.
The idea is that the launch of these solar satellites will take place in the first months of the year 2023. It will not only be a new way of obtaining solar energy, but it will also serve to check how this wireless energy transfer system works.
In addition, how these flexible and floating solar structures work will also be checked. All of these satellites are expected to fly close to each other and synchronize with each other when working. In fact, over time, new satellites can be implemented to those that are already above.
It is a form of clean energy technology with great potential and once everything is well optimized it will surely be of great use for the future . Today to other similar projects in development, so you have to be careful to see how they work.