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The Chinese scientists hoping to use a space solar plant to power the world
🇨🇳 China /Technology

The Chinese scientists hoping to use a space solar plant to power the world

From South China Morning Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Chinese scientists are developing technology to generate electricity in space and transmit it to Earth using mirrors, solar panels, and microwave transmitters.
  • The system involves focusing sunlight with mirrors onto solar panels, converting the electricity into microwaves, and beaming it to a ground-based rectenna.
  • The team at Xidian University is testing hardware for this ambitious project, aiming for large-scale power generation from space.

A team at Xidian University in China is pursuing an ambitious vision: generating electricity in space and beaming it back to Earth. Led by Fan Guanheng, an associate professor, the researchers are testing hardware that could one day harness solar power from orbit.

Using a few mirrors, solar panels and a microwave transmitter, Fan Guanheng and his team can send power over 100 metres (330 feet) through the air.

— NarratorDescribing the current capabilities of the team's technology.

The futuristic technology relies on a three-step process. First, large mirrors concentrate sunlight onto solar panels, which then generate electricity. This electricity is subsequently converted into microwaves and transmitted wirelessly to a specialized antenna, known as a rectenna, on the ground.

But they are dreaming much bigger – 36,000km (23,460 miles) bigger.

— NarratorHighlighting the scale of the team's ambition.

Currently, the team is conducting experiments, including measuring the efficiency of a large, dome-shaped mirror suspended from a tall tower. While their current tests involve transmitting power over relatively short distances, their ultimate goal is to establish a system capable of generating and sending power from an altitude of 36,000 kilometers.

First, the mirrors focus sunlight onto solar panels, generating electricity.

— Fan GuanhengExplaining the first step of the space solar power generation process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by South China Morning Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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