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Japan comes closer to beaming solar power from SPACE: Mitsubishi makes breakthrough in sending energy wirelessly

- Microwaves delivered 1.8 kw of power - enough to run an electric kettle
-Power was sent through the air with to a receiver 170ft (55 metres) away
- Technology may someday help tap vast solar energy available in space
-Jaxa's plan is to eventually have sunlight-gathering panels and antennae set up about 22,300 miles (36,000km) from the Earth

Japanese scientists have successfully transmitted energy wirelessly in a breakthrough that could pave the way for space-based solar power systems.

Mitsubishi researchers used microwaves to deliver 1.8 kilowatts of power - enough to run an electric kettle - through the air with pinpoint accuracy to a receiver 170ft (55 metres) away.

While the distance was relatively small, the technology could someday pave the way for mankind to tap the vast amount of solar energy available in space and use it here on Earth.



'This was the first time anyone has managed to send a high output of nearly two kilowatts of electric power via microwaves to a small target, using a delicate directivity control device,' said a spokesman for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said.

The test, which took place at Kobe Shipyard & Machinery Works in Nagoya, Japan, will help Jaxa devise its long-awaited space solar power system....

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... z3UNPiY2dK

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Space Based Solar Power Market Global Industry Analysis Forecast 2017 2025
Posted: Jul 19, 2017 3:56 AM EDT
Updated: Jul 19, 2017 7:28 AM EDT


Collecting the solar power in outer space and transmitting it wirelessly to the surface of the earth for usage in various applications is the basic concept of space based solar power (also known as SBSP). High collection or absorption rate of uninterrupted solar energy is one of the primary advantages of the technique. During night and cloud cover, solar energy is unavailable on earth. The incoming solar energy is largely affected by earth’s atmosphere. About 30% of incoming solar energy is reflected to the space due to earth’s thick atmosphere. The tilt of the earth’s axis actually causes various seasons, which in turn affects the incoming solar radiation. In space the absence of atmosphere & zero effect of the earth’s tilt poses a great opportunity to harness the incessant solar energy.

Self-assembling satellites are launched into space, and equipped with reflectors and microwave or laser power transmitter. These expandable reflectors or mirrors expands & directs solar radiation onto the panels. These panels transform solar energy into microwave or a laser, and transmit the uninterrupted beam down to power receiving stations on earth and add it to the electric grid. Space based solar power can deliver large amount of energy with minimal impact to the environment. It may solve energy and greenhouse gas emission issues. Two types of satellites are being discussed for designing of SBSP: microwave transmitting satellite and laser transmitting satellite. Of these two types, the microwave transmitting satellite is larger in size and orbits at much higher altitude (around 30-35000 km). It incurs higher cost of launching and setting the satellite system into the orbit. Whereas the laser transmitting system is smaller in size and orbits the earth at lesser altitude of 300-400 km above the earth’s surface thus has lesser cost. However, the construction of such a system requires significant investment in R&D and then into a pilot project.

The application of SBSP derived solar energy is large as the source of energy is limitless. The energy emitted by the sun every hour is more than that consumed by a human in a year. The energy gathered at the station located on the earth’s surface will provide uninterrupted electricity for domestic, commercial, and industry usage. Increase in number of such projects may completely transform the ongoing energy scenario. Waste free operation is another driver of this technology. Nuclear waste generated by nuclear power plant & coal power plant pollutes the environment and also incurs huge cost for its disposal.

High cost of launching the equipment into the geostationary orbits is a major restraint of this technique. The rocket technology is evolving, thus it is possible to have reusable rockets in near future. Reusable rockets will increase the frequency of launching and thus the cost of launching operation will reduce. Reduction in launching cost of SBSP will promote the concept to become a reality.

The technology is not yet available in the market. However, the following organizations plan to engage in SBSP: NASA, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), European Space Agency (ESA), & Space Energy Inc.

ROCKMAN wrote:And by their own admission since the tech hasn't been developed yet we don't know if SBSP will ever be an economically viable option. But nothing wrong with dreaming. As long as it doesn't distract from proven options.

KaiserJeep wrote:

ROCKMAN wrote:And by their own admission since the tech hasn't been developed yet we don't know if SBSP will ever be an economically viable option. But nothing wrong with dreaming. As long as it doesn't distract from proven options.

As a matter of fact, there is one HUGE problem with beaming power from space. There may be AGW going on already (I remain unconvinced, since we are in a warming period anyway), but intercepting sunlight that would otherwise miss the Earth snd then beaming it to the surface either as microwaves or light is definately a form of Global Warming, as each kWh of power would end up adding that same amount of heat.

Bad idea. I like the techie aspect, but not the concept.

pstarr wrote:SBSP is an incredible technology! It transfers unimpeded insolation to a stationary earth-based heat engine. Or to your crisped-up body . . . if you dare question the tech

I like SBSP

KaiserJeep wrote:

ROCKMAN wrote:And by their own admission since the tech hasn't been developed yet we don't know if SBSP will ever be an economically viable option. But nothing wrong with dreaming. As long as it doesn't distract from proven options.

As a matter of fact, there is one HUGE problem with beaming power from space. There may be AGW going on already (I remain unconvinced, since we are in a warming period anyway), but intercepting sunlight that would otherwise miss the Earth snd then beaming it to the surface either as microwaves or light is definately a form of Global Warming, as each kWh of power would end up adding that same amount of heat.

Bad idea. I like the techie aspect, but not the concept.

Subjectivist wrote:-snip-

That makes no more sense than the people who think waste heat from any other type of power plant warm the earth. If the energy is being used on the surface the waste heat produced will be released on or near the surface no matter what the energy source is. Coal, natural gas, geothermal, nuclear, cold fusion, beamed space solar...irrelevant! All the released stored energy or beamed energy is ultimately expressed as heat.

KaiserJeep wrote:

Subjectivist wrote:-snip-

That makes no more sense than the people who think waste heat from any other type of power plant warm the earth. If the energy is being used on the surface the waste heat produced will be released on or near the surface no matter what the energy source is. Coal, natural gas, geothermal, nuclear, cold fusion, beamed space solar...irrelevant! All the released stored energy or beamed energy is ultimately expressed as heat.

Sub and OS, you need to think about this using basic thermodynamics at the macro level of the planet itself. It is a round ball and intercepts solar flux at a constant rate exactly the same as the cross sectional area exposed to the Sun. The only variables being distance from the Sun and the solar output of our star.

Now think of adding EXTRA ENERGY above and beyond that intercepted by the planet itself. Whatever means you use to capture such energy, however you use it, the net result will (because of entropy) always be the natural heating of the planet PLUS the amount you added from space.

The reason it is commonly called "Thermo-Goddamnics" it because it is frequently inconvenient.