Japan To Launch A Solar Power Station by 2040
Here's a tremendously unique idea and comes from none other than Japan. Their ministry of economy, trade and industry (METI) plans to launch a giant solar power station by 2040. A solar station in geostationary orbit, 36,000 km above the earth, would avoid clouds and be able to generate power 24 hours a day.
The station will have a capacity of 1 million kilowatts of energy per second, which is equivalent to a nuclear plant. This energy generated would be sent back to earth in the form of microwaves.
Having said that, nothing works unless it starts working. Japan’s space efforts so far have been a mix of successes and failures. And if it has to be operational in almost 30 years, the conceptualization and design efforts should start now.
Another doubt I have is what will happen to the flying objects (such as birds and airplanes) crossing the station's microwave spectrum? That could potentially cause not just complaints but some serious accidents.
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