The New Space Based Energy Solution
What if we could harness the sun’s vast energy and put it to use powering 20%, 30%, or more of the appliances, devices, and other power suckers that we currently run with traditional energy sources. How much would that help our planet? How much pressure would that relieve from the governments around the world to constantly find and supply energy sources for their citizens? How much would our monthly energy bills go down? If we as citizens are willing to spend the money, we may soon find out. And the answer may lie in space-based solar power.
For 10 years or more, scientists have been making speeches and talking about space based solar power or solar panels for electricity. Now, it may be becoming more than a theory. The idea revolves around positioning constellations of large solar panels in space or on the moon that can capture energy from the sun and send it back to earth for use. Conceivably, each solar panel could be as much as one mile wide in size, or more.
There are 2 main reasons why these solar panels would have to be positioned in space.
1) The disadvantage of solar panels on earth is that approximately half of every day is without sunlight, meaning that no energy is collected. In space, the panels can be positioned so that they are always in view of the sun and energy can be collected 24 hours a day.
2) The sun loses much of it’s energy as it fights its way through the earth’s atmosphere – as much as 80%. On cloudy days, it loses even more. Space has no atmosphere, thus we could practically collect the full energy quotient from the sun.
Such a space based solar power system project would require billions of dollar in investment. But if some innovative company or government does take the initiative, its implementation could revolutionize the means as to how we get our energy.
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