A group of researchers from California has proposed a ground-breaking solution in the search for stable energy sources: a system to transfer energy directly from space to Earth. This new project involves creating an array of transmitting antennas that can harness the energy from solar panels in orbit and deliver it to receivers on Earth, significantly increasing the power of the transmitted energy and expanding its transmission radius.
The concept of transmitting solar energy from space, which was first suggested in the 1940s, has evolved from science fiction to a subject of serious research. Unlike wind and ground solar energy, which are dependent on weather conditions, collecting energy directly from space could offer a more reliable energy supply.
One of the main challenges, however, is ensuring precise focusing and directing of the microwave beam towards the Earth. The transmission of energy over such long distances requires large transmitters in orbit and receiving devices on the ground to capture the weakened signals.
To address these challenges, Professor Ali Hadzhimir from the California Institute of Technology and his team have proposed an intermediate array of transmitters positioned in orbit between the energy source in space and the receivers on Earth. This system of “relayers” aims to enhance the accuracy of beam targeting on specific areas of the Earth’s surface and enable the use of smaller devices.
The researchers conducted tests on a small prototype of this system, demonstrating that it could transmit nearly 2.5 times more energy than direct transmission to Earth. These tests were conducted in a controlled chamber with a distance of only 3.8 meters between the transmitter and receiver. The results indicate that this new system could enable energy transfer over long distances or require less equipment for transmission over a fixed distance.
While Hadzhimir acknowledges that the intermediate system may raise the overall project costs, the increased efficiency of energy transmission could potentially lead to lower costs per unit of energy over the long term. Although full-scale space-based energy transmission is still a concept for the future, the team plans to continue developing and testing larger, controlled transmitting arrays in space conditions.