A giant leap toward space-based solar power
by Christine ZhuangGreen Air Filter:
Solar power has already achieved its place as one of the main player in renewable energy source. But Pacific Gas and Electric Co. wants to go beyond; above and beyond. The California based electric company plans on buying project by Solaren Corp. that enables a solar-power set up in space.
The project entails sending solar collectors into space which will eventually collect enough energy to beam back as radio waves to a station in Fresno, California. The state of California has made a goal of having 20% of the state being powered by renewable energy and with technology such as Solaren Corp.’s, it could easily accomplish such a feat. However, many environmentalists question whether the project is even feasible with the 2 billion dollar required budget let alone the mechanics of the project. Despite criticism, renewable energy is about to get the boost it has been looking for.
Photo by Cherie Ve Ard.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Why haven’t we done this already? We send up satelites all the time, but we haven’t set up solar-power in space. Huh