Electricity from orbiting solar-powered lasers
In a development that brings space-based power generation systems a step closer to reality, researchers from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Osaka University Institute of Laser Engineering have developed groundbreaking new technology for converting sunlight into laser beams.
Relying on plates made from a special ceramic material containing chromium (which absorbs the sunlight) and neodymium (which efficiently converts sunlight to laser light), the newly developed lasers demonstrated an impressive 42% solar-to-laser energy conversion efficiency, outperforming previous technology by a factor of four.
The researchers say the new laser technology will play a key role in JAXA’s “Space Solar Power Systems” (SSPS) project, which aims to put space-based power systems in orbit by the year 2030. By mounting the system on a satellite in stationary orbit 36,000 km (22,400 mi.) above the equator, sunlight would be collected and converted into a powerful laser beam, which would then be aimed at a terrestrial power station and used to generate electricity or produce hydrogen.
Unlike earthbound solar power stations, which are subject to night-time darkness and cloudy conditions, JAXA’s SSPS will be able to make use of solar energy 24 hours a day. With slight improvements in the solar-to-laser conversion efficiency and by incorporating solar collectors measuring 100 to 200 meters long, a single satellite will be able to match the output of a 1-gigawatt nuclear power plant, the researchers say. One can only hope these lasers never fall into the wrong hands.
The results of the research were announced at a meeting of the Japan Society of Applied Physics that began on September 4 in Sapporo.
[Source: Asahi]
Reminds me of good old Isaac Asimov…
I wonder, will they build the MULTIVAC to?
[…] Electricity from orbiting solar-powered lasers […]
Does anyone else remember playing Sim City 2000 and what happens when the laser got out of allignment and started scorching the city?
Multivac? Isn’t that Google?
I see a couple issues with this idea.
First, what would happen to the clouds that get in the way of the laser?
Second, the cost of putting any satellite into geosynchronous orbit is pretty high, like in the 100’s of millions. At that to the cost of building a ground station, this can be very expensive.
Third, since the satellite must remain in a fixed location in the sky, wouldn’t the satellite experience darkness also? So the satellite would only be operational at most 12 hours a day?
[…] ils pensent produire autant d’énergie qu’une centrale nucléaire d’1 Gigawatt. [Asahi via Pink Tentacle] et La Dernière Question […]
[…] produire autant d’énergie qu’une centrale nucléaire d’1 Gigawatt. [Asahi via Pink Tentacle] et La Dernière Question [Wikipédia] En savoir plus […]
[…] Weltraum-Agentur will in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Institut für Laser-Technik der Universität Osaka Platten aus Chrom und Neodym ins Weltall schießen, wo sie Sonnenlicht einfangen und in Laser-Strahlen verwandeln sollen, die […]
It reminds me of a James Bond movie …
[…] Solar powered lasers from space… Sounds like a B-Movie title! […]
As an optician I really wonder on which principle the laser beam “energy lossless” propagation is based.
Technically, this theory developed must allow for any kind of scattering and absorbing effects due to real earth atmosphere optical properties. Otherwise, even a couple of percent (about 10-20 Megawatts!) of the power lost thru energy transmission by means of improperly formed laser beams would be warming up the earth rather appreciably.
That is not new technology, come on. Personally I do not believe that anybody will do this and similar ideas (electricity converted in to microwaves) as it can be use as really strong weapon. Weapon not so stupid like Atomic Bomb but weapon with similar power and with microscopic precision. USA never allow something like that… what is of course pity… ;)
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[…] Second article. […]
Solar power is everywhere and it is growing everyday. It does not cost anything so we must to find all the ways to capture and use it…I think this is a good try ;)
[…] kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The satellites convert sunlight into powerful microwave (or laser) beams that are aimed at receiving stations on Earth, where they are converted into […]
[…] at Jaxa have found a way to harness solar power even closer to the source- from outer space! The Space Solar Power System (SSPS) technology would capture solar rays in space and transport the energy to be used here on the […]
Damn .. Ion Cannon anybody ?
Even the art work looks just like i’m seeing a C&C Game.. The military types will go apt nuts.
Nut seriously , space solar power is definetely worth the cost. There are gigawatts of power out there in Geosynchronous orbit and its a huge crime to let all that essentially “free” energy from the sun go to waste.