Japan, California look to space power
DEC 23, 2009
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.023951
Various : Two space-based solar power projects, one that will happen in the next six years in California, and a longer term project in Japan may revive plans to beam power from space to the Earth.California regulators proposed a plan to approve a 15-year contract with the US company Solaren Corp . to supply space-based solar power to utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) by 2016.The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has also teamed up with a private Japanese coalition to design a solar space station for launch by the 2030s.The plants collect solar power in orbit and beam the power to the Earth in the form of microwaves. The technical and economic challenges involved are immerse, says physicist Marty Hoffert , to space.com , not the least of which is that coal is cheap he adds.
© 2009 American Institute of Physics
