Solar Rising

Solar energy is becoming one of the world's major power sources due to its natural abundance, “fuel-free” nature, and no carbon emission when operating

As solar energy becomes increasingly integrated into the global energy landscape, several key trends and developments are shaping its future trajectory. Among them are the rising efficiency of solar panels, the decreasing costs of production, and the ongoing efforts to address the intermittency of solar power.

One promising avenue being explored to overcome the limitations of ground-based solar energy is the concept of orbital solar. This involves harnessing solar energy in Earth's orbit and transmitting it wirelessly to receivers on the ground. While the idea of space-based solar power (SBSP) has been around for decades, recent advancements in launch technologies and the increasing demand for renewable energy sources are making it more feasible than ever before.

The concept of orbital solar is relatively straightforward. Large solar arrays are deployed in space, where they can continuously collect sunlight,不受天气条件或昼夜变化的影响。然后将收集到的能量通过微波或激光束传输到地球上的接收器，再转换为电能。

One of the main advantages of orbital solar is its ability to provide a continuous and reliable supply of energy, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. This addresses one of the key challenges of ground-based solar energy, which is intermittent and can only generate electricity during daylight hours.

Another potential benefit of orbital solar is the higher efficiency of solar panels in space. Due to the absence of an atmosphere and the lower temperatures in orbit, solar panels can operate at optimal levels without being affected by factors such as dust, clouds, or pollution.

However, there are also several technical and economic challenges that need to be overcome for orbital solar to become a viable commercial technology. One of the biggest hurdles is the high cost of launching and deploying the massive solar arrays and transmission equipment into space.

Another challenge lies in the efficient and safe transmission of large amounts of energy wirelessly over long distances. The technology for beaming energy from space to Earth is still under development and needs to be proven to be reliable and cost-effective.

Despite these challenges, several companies and research institutions are actively pursuing the development of orbital solar technologies. Among them are:

1. Solaren (formerly known as Space Solar Power Project): Solaren is a joint venture between Airbus and ArianeGroup that aims to develop and demonstrate a commercial-scale SBSP system by 2035. The company is planning to launch a pilot plant into orbit by 2028 to test the key technologies involved.

2. Space Energy Initiative (SEI): SEI is a non-profit organization founded by scientists and engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Caltech. The organization is working on developing and promoting SBSP technologies, with a focus on low-cost and scalable solutions.

3. Emrod Space (formerly known as Laser Light Power): Emrod Space is a startup company that is developing a laser-based SBSP system. The company's approach involves using high-efficiency solar panels in space to generate electricity, which is then converted into a laser beam and transmitted to a receiver on Earth.

The development of orbital solar technologies is also gaining attention from government agencies and international organizations. In 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced a new program to study and develop SBSP technologies, with the aim of demonstrating a small-scale pilot plant in orbit by 2030.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has included SBSP among the key technologies that could contribute to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The IEA notes that SBSP has the potential to provide a large-scale, continuous, and renewable source of energy, but further research and development are needed to make it commercially viable.

As the world continues to transition towards renewable energy sources and technologies, orbital solar is emerging as a promising concept that could potentially address some of the limitations of ground-based solar energy. However, significant technological and economic challenges need to be overcome before orbital solar can become a mainstream energy solution.