The United States Department of Defense has recently signed a contract with Overview Energy to design and test a space solar energy system. This system will be designed to transfer solar energy from orbit to Earth.
Benefits of Space Solar Energy
This technology, due to its location in orbit, has the ability to produce solar energy 24 hours a day, thus helping to address challenges in the clean energy sector. Currently, with increased energy production during peak hours and a mismatch with consumption hours, issues such as energy waste and negative energy prices are on the rise.
Challenges in Ground Solar Technologies
Ground solar technologies typically require vast areas of land and face legal challenges in securing suitable land for development. A large solar farm can require thousands of hectares of land. According to a report from McKinsey & Company, solar farms generally need 10 times more space than coal or natural gas power plants per unit of energy.
In contrast, placing solar panels in space can solve this problem. Additionally, the energy produced by these panels can be precisely sent to required locations, which is particularly important for use in remote military bases.
Future Outlook
The first test of this technology is scheduled for 2028, and the deployment of geostationary satellites is anticipated for 2030. Darko Filipi, co-CEO of Overview Energy, has highlighted the importance of the connection between space and Earth and stated that this technology could be a sustainable and effective source of energy for military needs.
Overview Energy has also signed a contract with Meta to supply one gigawatt of space solar energy, equivalent to the output of a nuclear reactor. However, both contracts are based on emerging technologies, and the complete system has yet to be tested in orbit.
