Beaming energy?

[neck beard]

Is this possible? If it is, why do I need to plug my laptop into the wall?

"Once collected, the solar energy would be safely beamed to Earth via wireless radio transmission"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/op...=1&oref=slogin




Harvest the Sun — From Space

Article Tools Sponsored By
By O. GLENN SMITH
Published: July 23, 2008

AS we face $4.50 a gallon gas, we also know that alternative energy sources — coal, oil shale, ethanol, wind and ground-based solar — are either of limited potential, very expensive, require huge energy storage systems or harm the environment. There is, however, one potential future energy source that is environmentally friendly, has essentially unlimited potential and can be cost competitive with any renewable source: space solar power.

Science fiction? Actually, no — the technology already exists. A space solar power system would involve building large solar energy collectors in orbit around the Earth. These panels would collect far more energy than land-based units, which are hampered by weather, low angles of the sun in northern climes and, of course, the darkness of night.

Once collected, the solar energy would be safely beamed to Earth via wireless radio transmission, where it would be received by antennas near cities and other places where large amounts of power are used. The received energy would then be converted to electric power for distribution over the existing grid. Government scientists have projected that the cost of electric power generation from such a system could be as low as 8 to 10 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is within the range of what consumers pay now.

In terms of cost effectiveness, the two stumbling blocks for space solar power have been the expense of launching the collectors and the efficiency of their solar cells. Fortunately, the recent development of thinner, lighter and much higher efficiency solar cells promises to make sending them into space less expensive and return of energy much greater.

Much of the progress has come in the private sector. Companies like Space Exploration Technologies and Orbital Sciences, working in conjunction with NASA’s public-private Commercial Orbital Transportation Services initiative, have been developing the capacity for very low cost launchings to the International Space Station. This same technology could be adapted to sending up a solar power satellite system.

Still, because building the first operational space solar power system will be very costly, a practical first step would be to conduct a test using the International Space Station as a “construction shack” to house the astronauts and equipment. The station’s existing solar panels could be used for the demonstration project, and its robotic manipulator arms could assemble the large transmitting antenna. While the station’s location in orbit would permit only intermittent transmission of power back to Earth, a successful test would serve as what scientists call “proof of concept.”

Over the past 15 years, Americans have invested more than $100 billion, directly and indirectly, on the space station and supporting shuttle flights. With an energy crisis deepening, it’s time to begin to develop a huge return on that investment. (And for those who worry that science would lose out to economics, there’s no reason that work on space solar power couldn’t go hand in hand with work toward a manned mission to Mars, advanced propulsion systems and other priorities of the space station.)

In fact, in a time of some skepticism about the utility of our space program, NASA should realize that the American public would be inspired by our astronauts working in space to meet critical energy needs here on Earth.

O. Glenn Smith is a former manager of science and applications experiments for the International Space Station at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

[telepariah]

"LASER" beam.

[Ripzalot]

lasers are banned from space atm. probably uses microwave radiation.

[telepariah]

Duh. I was making a joke.

[neck beard]

And it was a good one.

I bet beaming a nations supply of energy through the atmosphere does something to it, like burns holes in it. And kills bees as well.

[Ripzalot]

Duh. I was making a joke.

double duh.

but seriously, laser is a feasible method if it weren't for the ban.

And it was a good one.

I bet beaming a nations supply of energy through the atmosphere does something to it, like burns holes in it. And kills bees as well.

yeah, and i'm sure that some commie-pinko-greenie will find a way to link it to global warming and that will be the end of this idea.

[DharmaBum]

double duh.

but seriously, laser is a feasible method if it weren't for the ban.


yeah, and i'm sure that some commie-pinko-greenie will find a way to link it to global warming and that will be the end of this idea.

Link it to global warming? That's the least of our concerns. Some military-industrial type will figure out that you can use it as a weapon to fry a countries air traffic control system or explode oil storage tanks and stuff. Maybe even take out individual people; like holding a magnifying glass over an ant! Don't like a particular leader in say, Iran? Poof! He's gone in a puff of smoke.

[davep]

Link it to global warming? That's the least of our concerns. Some military-industrial type will figure out that you can use it as a weapon to fry a countries air traffic control system or explode oil storage tanks and stuff. Maybe even take out individual people; like holding a magnifying glass over an ant! Don't like a particular leader in say, Iran? Poof! He's gone in a puff of smoke.

yeah but we can already do all that stuff.

I think it'd be rad to see the wide assortment of microwave-cooked birds that fly too close to the beam.

[Hutch]

The Future is going to be awesome.

[Hugh Conway]

Link it to global warming? That's the least of our concerns. Some military-industrial type will figure out that you can use it as a weapon to fry a countries air traffic control system or explode oil storage tanks and stuff. Maybe even take out individual people; like holding a magnifying glass over an ant! Don't like a particular leader in say, Iran? Poof! He's gone in a puff of smoke.

Dude, they already have weapons like that. There are also lasers in space.

[PNWbrit]

Iran?

Poof

Actually they don't have 'em there.

not that there's anything wrong with that

[Cliff Huckable]

yeah but we can already do all that stuff.

Dude, they already have weapons like that. There are also lasers in space.

*spit-take* Oh, do tell!

[davep]

*spit-take* Oh, do tell!

I dont mean with beams from outer space, but the US (and lots of other countries) already have remote controlled things that go boom that could "fry a countries air traffic control system or explode oil storage tanks and stuff. Maybe even take out individual people"

[Hugh Conway]

I dont mean with beams from outer space

Is this close enough?

[TomK]

Yes, it works at large scales but the physics at small single-unit scales does not.
(Too much movement of the receiver means you can't use a focused beam, and broadcasting power has too much wasted energy.

[wendigo]

Link it to global warming? That's the least of our concerns. Some military-industrial type will figure out that you can use it as a weapon to fry a countries air traffic control system or explode oil storage tanks and stuff. Maybe even take out individual people; like holding a magnifying glass over an ant! Don't like a particular leader in say, Iran? Poof! He's gone in a puff of smoke.

...or make popcorn ala Real Genius

Lazlo has the lowdown on sweepstakes winnings.

[liv2ski]

Cool piece. I always tell people we should come up with just what that article is talking about. Solar panels in space and beam the energy to earth. Why aren't we on this one yet. Seems like any major issues could be worked through pretty easily if we tried.

[NeigeÉternelle]

Space mirrors could be interesting too.

Quote :

Space mirrors are a simple, fascinating technology which can give humans access to massive, base load power flows. In the long-run, they can provide virtually endless, clean power to mankind -- all the advantages of nuclear, without the mine tailings and radioactive waste. Space energy will allow us to overcome the exhaustion of terrestrial resources and grow beyond the "petri dish".

Some near-term possibilities:

-Focus sunlight onto a small spot on the earth, and use the heat to drive solar furnaces.
-Focus sunlight on the tar sands and soften them up.
-Gather wasted light (which would never strike the earth anyway) using mirrors, and focus it on a point near the earth for power generation.
-Focus light on the ocean to generate storms and rain for dry regions
-Use screens/mirrors to control temperatures for a lunar base

[Verde]

Last year I was flying back home from California after a business trip. I was seated next to an older gentleman and we struck up a conversation (unusual for me because I usually don't like small talk with strangers). He said he was returning from a meeting with the California Utiliites board to inform them of his company's plans for beaming microwave energy back from space to create electricity. I was interested and he was talkative, so we conversed the whole ride back.

He was a retired executive from Hughes Aerospace and had started a company to commercialize the technology. He said the hardest part about the technology, and why NASA hadn't been able to make it happen yet, was due to the difficulty of getting the large booms (structural supports) into space. Apparently the size of the panels required to collect the solar energy had to be huge. He had developed and patented a method to expand the booms in space.

The collected energy would be beamed to the ground via microwaves to collectors on the ground. The heat generated would run turbines to create electricity. They were looking at putting the ground station in the Mojave Desert because it would be easier to plug into the large electric grids near there. He gave me the impression that it was very feasible and they would have something running in the next 5-10 years.

[neck beard]

This sounds more workable than mining Helium 3 on the moon.

[Rubicon]

but seriously, laser is a feasible method if it weren't for the air.

Fixed it for you.

[Pow4Brains]

Meet George Jetson.....

[Obstruction]

Heard this guy:

Richard A. Muller, professor of physics at the University of California at Berkeley and a MacArthur Fellowship winner, he is the author of "Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines."

answer that very question yesterday on NPRs "On Point."

He indicated energy cost would greatly exceed value of energy produced and he thought that the environmental folks would have a problem with concentrated microwaves coursing through our atmosphere.

[TeleHoar]

Aim that Microwave sucker at Iowa,

I am out of popcorn for the SCOTUS gun thread.