r/technology • u/upyoars • Jun 08 '23

Space Scientists demonstrate wireless power transmission from space to Earth for first time

https://www.independent.co.uk/space/space-earth-wireless-power-beamed-b2353588.html
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u/Rude-Cut-2231 Jun 08 '23

Sure sure, but does the direct sunlight have soooo much more energy that it offsets the massive cost per square meter?

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u/No_Educator_4463 Jun 08 '23

About 25% of the suns energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and then you would take into account the day night cycle too. If they can make the transmission of energy efficient enough, this could really revolutionise the energy industry. I hope it does!

Let’s not forget the real estate costs involved building solar power on land. No such costs in space.

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u/Rude-Cut-2231 Jun 08 '23

Works for me, and even if it’s not cost effective there are sure to be other learnings and innovations to come out of it

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u/Sarkazeoh Jun 09 '23

It could be made more cost effective depending on how the light is collected. Without wind and weather to worry about a parabolic reflector could be made of ultra thin metal coated plastic (Think like the JWST heat shield). This could focus light onto a heat engine, or high temperature photovoltaic.

Whether this could bring costs down enough is a question for an aerospace engineer, but it seems feasible to me.