China started to develop the first space solar power

China wants to reach an entirely new level of renewable energy production. Chinese scientists are planning to build in Earth orbit first in the history of space solar power. It seeks to place at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers above the Earth, where, regardless of the time of day, weather conditions and inclement weather of the planet, it will be able to efficiently and consistently important to collect solar energy for its subsequent transmission to ground stations.

The generated electricity will be transformed by it in the microwave or laser beam for transmission to special collectors located on Earth. Station project was proposed by Chinese engineers still 2015. According to Australia's Sydney Morning Herald, with reference to the Chinese edition of the Science and Technology Daily, experts of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology embarked on the development of early experimental prototype installation.

According to Ban Nikko National Academy of space technology, space solar power could become "an inexhaustible source of clean energy for mankind." Electric cars can be charged at any time and in any place. The station will provide electricity supply is almost constant, and 6 times more effective than any available in the world solar farm. The project will take place in several stages. High-performance solar power to run at once will not work. During the 2021-2025 years in the stratosphere it is scheduled to launch several compact prototype for solar energy collection and testing of its transmission to the ground collector. By 2030, scientists want to bring into orbit megawatt-class power, and by 2050 - gigawatt.

According to the vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, China could become the first country in the world to create a space solar power plant, has a real practical value.

It is noted that the main technical difficulty in the deployment of such a station in orbit is not the solar energy collection technology - the need is already there. The main problem - is the weight of the station, which, according to current estimates, will amount to about 1,000 tons. Weight the same International Space Station more than two times smaller and amounts to about 400 tons, says Ban Nikko.

Currently, experts are studying Chinese as one of the potential ways to solve this problem, the use of robots-and 3D-printing technology for the direct construction of the power plant directly in space. In addition, since the collected cosmic energy power plant is planned to be converted into microwaves for transmission to ground collectors, scientists also want to consider the potential impact of the microwave station on the atmosphere and the environment of the planet. It is expected that the orbital space power will help reduce air pollution emissions from multiple ground stations running on fossil fuels. In addition, as one of the possible perspectives is called to use the station as a source of energy for the needs of the developing program of development of deep space.

News source added that Japan, India, and some European countries, too, are discussing the ideas of using solar energy in space.

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