Scientists say China solar space station may create more energy than all Earth’s oil

Jan 17

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

Scientists in China are constructing a large-scale, space-based solar power station, which they claim could generate more energy annually than all the oil on Earth combined. The proposed structure will be over half a mile long, and located approximately 22,236 miles above Earth, transmitting power back to the planet via microwaves.

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This endeavor aims to address limitations of terrestrial solar power infrastructure, including disruptions caused by cloud cover and atmospheric absorption. Solar energy in space is reportedly 10 times more intense than at Earth’s surface, offering significant potential for continuous energy collection.

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Historically, large-scale, space-based solar power systems have faced challenges due to the need for multiple rocket launches. To overcome this, Chinese scientists are developing reusable heavy-lift rockets, capable of carrying at least 150 tons into orbit. These rockets are intended to reduce the number of launches required to assemble the solar array.

The project’s lead scientist has compared the endeavor to the Three Gorges Dam, a landmark hydropower project in central China. The dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric facility, generates enough energy to power nearly 9.5 million homes annually.

Tags: China, Climate Change, Electricity, Energy, Renewable energy, solar power, Space Technology

[Jack Aylmer]

CHINA IS BUILDING A MASSIVE SOLAR POWER SPACE STATION-

WHICH ITS DEVELOPERS CLAIM WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECT MORE ENERGY ANNUALLY THAN ALL THE OIL ON EARTH COULD CREATE.

THE MORE THAN HALF A MILE LONG SOLAR ARRAY WILL BE SITUATED OVER 22,000 MILES ABOVE OUR PLANET-

AND AIMS TO BEAM CONSTANT POWER BACK DOWN TO EARTH VIA MICROWAVES.

SPACE-BASED SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGIES HAVE BEEN CONCEPTUALIZED TO OVERCOME LIMITATIONS OF TERRESTRIAL SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE-

SUCH AS CLOUD COVER AND ATMOSPHERIC ABSORPTION.

SOLAR ENERGY IN SPACE IS REPORTEDLY 10 TIMES MORE INTENSE THAN AT EARTH’S SURFACE.

HOWEVER, THE CONSTRUCTION OF LARGE-SCALE SYSTEMS TO ACQUIRE THAT POWER HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN HINDERED BY THE NEED FOR NUMEROUS LAUNCHES.

TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES, CHINESE SCIENTISTS ARE DEVELOPING REUSABLE HEAVY-LIFT ROCKETS.

CAPABLE OF CARRYING AT LEAST 150 TONS WORTH OF WEIGHT OUT OF OUR ATMOSPHERE-

THESE NEW ROCKETS INTEND TO CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF LAUNCHES NEEDED TO BUILD OUT THIS SOLAR SPACE STATION.

THE PROJECT’S LEAD SCIENTIST HAS COMPARED THEIR PLAN TO HAVING ANOTHER THREE GORGES DAM ABOVE OUR EARTH-

WHICH AS THE WORLD’S LARGEST HYDROELECTRIC FACILITY, CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH ENERGY FOR NEARLY 9.5 MILLION HOMES EVERY YEAR.

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