Thanks to a new technological breakthrough, a simple antenna could soon harness solar energy from space to use on Earth.
According to developers, the science-fiction sounding development could provide renewable power 24 hours a day.
The Arachne mission, headed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Northrop Grumman, has produced a prototype solar panel to send into space. From there, a so-called “sandwich tile” harnesses the intense solar radiation found in outer space then beams that solar energy to Earth through wireless technology.
How Does the Space-Based Solar Panel Work?
The Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research (SSPIDR) Project has just tested essential hardware that makes Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) a possibility.
A sandwich tile was tested on Earth and successfully converted solar energy to radiofrequency (RF). The tile has two layers: its first features highly efficient photovoltaic (PV) cells to collect solar energy and power the tile’s second layer.
The second layer converts the solar to RF and beams it to Earth. An antenna on Earth would receive the RF and convert it into power. That means almost anyone, anywhere, could tap into a vast reserve of solar energy with a compatible antenna.
Northrop is not new to space development programs. The company was in the news recently, having helped build NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope, launched on Christmas Day 2021 from French Guiana, will be the most powerful telescope ever built and sent into space.
Prototype Is a Building Block for Scalable Technology
A successful ground demonstration used a solar simulator to kickstart the solar-to-RF conversion process. This scalable technology could, in theory, revolutionize the solar power energy market, thanks to the lightweight nature of the tile and the almost inextinguishable energy in the sun.
Researchers on the Arachne project hope the sandwich tile is the foundation block for a fully operational system to be launched in 2025.
Kyle Gleichmann, Arachne’s chief engineer, said: “It’s crucial we demonstrate this technology on-orbit as soon as possible to meet our nation’s needs.”
Can Space-Based Solar Energy Be Useful on Earth?
The work is part of the AFRL’s $100 million contract funding handed to Northrup Grumman in 2018 to develop a large-scale, space-based solar power collection system. Military forces will trial any successful space-based power before a public rollout.
Melody Martinez, SSPIDR deputy project manager, said: “Converting solar energy into RF energy at the component-level is a pivotal step to realizing space-based solar power beaming on a larger scale.”
The United States is not the only country examining what is known as Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP). Japan has been exploring SBSP since the 1980s and has already successfully demonstrated kW scale wireless power transmission in 2015.
China has recently formed a Committee of Space Solar Power, and the European Union has dabbled with investment and research. Other countries have expressed interest, too, including the United Kingdom.
Solar Has Many Possible Futures as a Power Source
In 2019, about 16% of the world’s energy mix came from renewable energy sources – including hydropower, wind energy, geothermal, solar power, and bioenergy – and it continues to grow year after year. However, fossil fuels still dominate the global energy mix. In fact, 84% of our energy comes from burning oil, gas, and coal.
Governments will need to think acrobatically and imaginatively to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Space-based solar power (SBSP) may capture the public’s attention if nothing else.
However, SBSP remains expensive and in its early stages of development. Science says it’s possible, but many obstacles await. Challenges include equipment degradation in space’s harsh environments, maintenance, creating space debris and avoiding existing junk orbiting the Earth, not to mention energy efficiency.
The Arachne mission has brought the technology of SBSP one step closer to realization. Work on efficiency, scalability, and practicality begins now.
Opinion writer: Tom Shearman
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