Tokyo-based Japan Space Systems has announced that by 2025 it will demonstrate a space solar power system that uses a satellite to collect energy from the sun and send it back to Earth.
Illustration of Japan's experimental space solar power design. Credit: Japan Space Systems
Illustration of Japan's experimental space solar power design. Credit: Japan Space Systems
If it goes ahead, it would be the first-ever technical demonstration of solar power generated in space and transmitted to Earth. The technology could have the potential to ultimately provide limitless clean energy and play an important part in helping society wean itself off fossil fuels.
"Space solar power has the potential to deliver enormous quantities of clean, carbon-free energy to the people of Earth every day, 365 days a year," said Dale Skran, COO of the US-based non-profit, National Space Society.
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“No new understanding of physics is needed, but we need to be spending money now to bring SSP to reality so that it can live up to its promise,” he added.
The UK has also developed a proposal for its own operational space solar satellite by 2040.
The UK plan states: "Space-Based Solar Power is a renewable technology which provides continuous baseload power and could be available at large scale. It warrants further exploration as it could offer new options and contribute to the Net Zero pathways."
The plan also points out that the new technology is technically feasible, environmentally sound and affordable.
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John C Mankins, a former NASA engineer and internationally recognised space expert, said: "Traditionally, space solar power has been seen as technically feasible but not economically competitive with other forms of electricity production. However, advances in robotics are expected to make construction and operation of large space systems much less expensive than using spacewalking astronauts, and a generation of large, low cost, reusable launch vehicles such as SpaceX’s Starship are fast approaching orbital flight status.
"Modular designs consisting of millions of pizza-box-sized, self-assembling ‘sandwich panels’ with solar cells on one side and transmitters on the other will bring economies of scale, making space solar power much more affordable than ever before."
The Japanese plan comes after decades of studying the idea's potential. If the demonstration works, it could have a huge impact on the energy industry over the coming years.
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