Comments on: Solar Satellites Could Beam Gigawatts of Energy from Space

By: My-kull

My-kull — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:55:07 +0000

I think this can be viewed from a different (and optimistic) perspective. Forget about the immediate start up cost of putting these satellites into space and any maintenance…once we potentially have \\\\\\\’unlimited\\\\\\\’ energy from the sun, many costs will become obsolete for us. Since one of the limiting factors for EVERYTHING done on Earth is energy, once we have this free energy, we can start making complimentary technologies that can harness electrical energy for its tasks. Most industrial operations will have almost zero cost because with free energy, there is no restriction on how much or how fast we can produce it, even if the process is not the currently \\\\\\\’most efficient way\\\\\\\’. With unlimited energy, a primary concern will not be the feasibility of a process, that will come with time and research. We can harness the benefits of less than optimal process and advance from there. We wouldn\\\\\\\’t even need to work a job for \\\\\\\’money\\\\\\\’ anymore because all of the things we need will be provided at no cost. Food can be grown in green houses, transportation (with electric cars that require very little maintenance) will not be a problem. Highspeed MagLev trains, running on electricity of course, will take over air travel that requires fossil fuels. Technologies to clean the air and water and recycle our waste into its core components will not have to be \\\\\\\’energy efficient\\\\\\\’ but will STILL give us great benefit. Also, those technologies would not have to be as efficient because we have reduced our pollution output so there will be a “net cleaning” effect of all current technologies.
And with unlimited energy, can there even be a cost charged?
I am a firm believer that by solving the energy production issue, all other problems will be solved in time.

By: eriknbrooklyn

eriknbrooklyn — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:44:26 +0000

beam energy down to earth? isn’t that like a persistent bolt of lightning hitting the ground without end? We should tether smaller arrays to the earth with incredibly long carbon-steel cables. that way we wouldn’t have to blacken parts of the planet for this method, and they would also help to shade the earth, preferably in its hottest places.

By: angelinalove

angelinalove — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:52:28 +0000

If we people would become active and responsible towards our nature never we will feel any loss in nay form of energy. We should use solar energy as much as possible acoording to our scientist who has made each and every possibilty to root out our problems. If solar energy will constantly convert in electrical energy no need to spend coal and water unnecessary.

By: Jesseneale1

Jesseneale1 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:42:03 +0000

I can see this solution being more commercially viable for energy companies in the future, if they are forced to reduce coal usage. While making buildings energy self sufficient is complete common sense and logically should be done, there is no money to be outsourced on that. The private collection, distribution and sale of solar power is unethical but probable and this kind of enterprise encourages exactly that. The new revolution in public perception on fossil fuels is an amazing chance for the betterment of humankind, clean cheap energy. We have to be careful that we are not cheated out of that.

By: earthsmile

earthsmile — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:26:24 +0000

I’ve been aware of the 2 Space Solar Power prototypes that NASA keeps ‘on the shelf’ since reading about them in the Richard Wagner book, ‘Designs on Space’ (2000). I thought it was a great idea at that time. Now,I believe that solar arrays orbiting at 40,000 feet, or higher, supported by ‘weather Ballon’ type derigibles would be a better way to go. Much easier to service, etc. Cheaper too. It’s also important to recognize that the ‘Carlyle Group’ has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into the ‘nanosolar’ company. The ‘nanosolar’ breakthrough solar panel technology reduces the cost of generating electricity to less than it costs to produce the same of electricity from coal !!!! So there will be ‘nanosolar’ power plants online soon. See: (Add your own: http://www. > to both !)

By: mbartosik

mbartosik — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:11:09 +0000

What\’s the difference between this and a huge \”death ray\” that you can point at your enemies and quite literally zap or cook them!

That\’s quite apart from astronomical cost, and single point of failure problems vs distributed system of solar power on your roof.

By: stephen

stephen — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:47:44 +0000

The atmosphere shields the Earth from high energy radiation. This is very good news for living things as it keeps them from being cooked. It is very bad news for people hoping to ‘beam’ energy down from space. This is not a new idea, nor a novel approach. Unless they employ some brilliant new technology, it will be stopped by the same barrier that has been thwarting cosmic rays since long before people grew tired of fossil fuels.

By: WBrooke

WBrooke — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:45:11 +0000

This idea is very appealing to technophiles. However this would be (pun intended) astronomically expensive, especially considering that sunlight falls on the ground for free. All we have to do is pick it up and use it. Technologies such as roof-top photovoltaics and solar hot water panels have been available for decades and work very well. Even in drizzly Seattle, more than enought solar power falls on a building (roof and south facade) to keep the occupants happy and productive.

I think it is much more beneficial to have each building become energy self-sufficient with its own solar power supply than to have a single power plant in orbit beaming power to the surface. Large central power plants are an old model. Distributed generation is more robust and should be the future.

Orbiting power stations may make a few people very rich, but I think it is un-neccessary. Money would be better spent developing better energy storage technologies.