Using space mud to make solar panels

Can a space-based solar panel collect more energy?

Here on Earth, sunlight is diffused by the atmosphere, but in space it comes directly from the sun without interference. So a space-based solar panel can collect a lot more energy than a similar sized one on Earth. Similar projects are under development elsewhere.

Can solar energy be generated in space?

A possible way around this would be to generate solar energy in space. There are many advantages to this. A space-based solar power station could orbit to face the Sun 24 hours a day. The Earth’s atmosphere also absorbs and reflects some of the Sun’s light, so solar cells above the atmosphere will receive more sunlight and produce more energy.

Can space-based solar be a reality?

China and Japan, as well as the European Space Agency and several companies in the US are all working to make space-based solar a reality. In the UK the government, university researchers and companies including EDF and the National Grid have formed the Space Energy Initiative to accelerate plans to put a solar power station in orbit.

Do solar panels capture more energy in space than on the ground?

Solar panels capture 13 times more energy in space than they do on the ground because the light intensity is higher and there's no atmosphere, clouds or night. Even though some energy would be lost by the time it is beamed back to Earth and connected to the electricity grid, it would still far outstrip solar generation on the ground.

Can space-based solar power back up ground-based renewables?

But it's the production of power around the clock that makes space-based solar energy so attractive for providing a "baseload" to back up ground-based renewables. Currently, nuclear energy and gas turbines provide the baseload for the grid but produce radioactive waste or carbon dioxide respectively.

Could solar panels be used to intercept the sun's energy?

Scientists envision massive solar panels in space could be used to intercept the Sun's energy and beam it to Earth (Credit: Nasa) Space-based power stations are turning from an idle dream into a serious engineering prospect, as scientists hope they can take renewable energy into orbit.