China Launches Ambitious Space-based Solar Energy Project
China has embarked on an unprecedented endeavor to construct a one-kilometer-wide solar power station in space, capable of generating more energy in a single year than the entire world’s oil reserves.
Slated to be launched into geostationary orbit via heavy-lift rockets, this gargantuan celestial solar farm will continuously harness renewable energy for Earth. The project’s scale is likened to creating a “Three Gorges Dam project above the Earth” by Chinese aerospace engineer Long Lehao.
The solar farm’s orbital position will allow it to remain stationary relative to the Earth’s surface, enabling constant energy harvesting unaffected by seasonal changes or daylight limitations. Space-based photovoltaics are estimated to be 10 times more efficient at energy collection than their terrestrial counterparts.
Construction of the space solar power station commenced in Chongqing in 2019. The project will rely on a reusable heavy-lift rocket, the Long March-9, to launch the solar array into orbit. Once operational, the solar farm is expected to transmit energy to the ground using microwaves.
This innovative project is a demonstration of China’s commitment to renewable energy and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, China’s space-based solar farm may pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.