From Jerry Grey
The author says that space is where the energy is to be found – in the form of limitless sunshine around the clock!
The theory is simple enough – a satellite in geosynchronous orbit could convert sunlight to power using solar cells, and then beam it back to the Earth as microwaves. Indeed, this should be the major power source in the twenty-first century.
This is not another “pie-in-the-sky” utopian system, as some skeptics would have us believe. The component technologies have been tested and demonstrated. What of the cost of building and operating such a system? And its economic viability, and the environmental concerns? The domestic solar water heater was rejected for some of these reasons – and the satellite power system is far more complex!
Several engineering solutions have been proposed by the author that would boost efficiency. One of the alternatives proposed is to use laser technology (instead of microwaves) to beam energy back to the Earth. This is considered to be much safer to use, as the required area for receiving the transmissions from space would only be a few meters across. However, the technology is still being developed.
One of the advantages of the satellite power system is that - because of the perpetual sunshine in space – no energy storage facilities are required. But the transmitter must always face towards the Earth. Obviously, construction of this system in space will pose an engineering challenge. As for transportation of the system into space, it should not be a problem, given the number of shuttles and launchers that are now available.
The author says it is important that we do not work on a specific design / prototype alone, but keep our options open so as to identify the most practical system. The end in sight – the capture of solar energy and its return to the Earth – makes it well worth the money spent, and the effort made.
Source : http://www.shvoong.com/exact-sciences/engineering/1812430-article-solar-options/
Indonesian translation
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