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Space-based solar power is set to revolutionize energy production on Earth in 2020, with Japan preparing to launch a satellite that will transmit solar energy from space to the planet in the form of microwaves. The project, known as OHISAMA (meaning “Sun” in Japanese), is set to cost some $1.9 billion and will require a staggering 63,000 local police and military personnel to secure its first year of operation as it hurtles across the sky.
The small satellite will be launched into low orbit, where it will utilize a large solar cell to charge its battery pack and broadcast wireless energy back to Earth. Each antenna on Earth will need to be spread over a distance of 40 km, with each antenna 5 km apart, in order for enough energy to be transmitted. However, this process takes only a few minutes and requires several days for the battery pack to fully charge once its power runs out.
This experiment marks an important step towards the development of space-based solar power technology that could help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change. While it is not yet at commercial scale, it represents an important milestone on the path towards a sustainable future powered by renewable energy sources.
