News about Solar, Wind and alternative green power technologies

Japan, well known for its advanced state in technology, is going towards space project to generate electricity for people on earth. Going outside the earth is a great step that is yet to be realized sooner than we might expect.

According to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), it has been announced that as much as 1 GW of solar energy will be produced from space by 2030. The futuristic project is expected to work at full capacity in 20 years from now.

However, according to plans of JAXA , it is predicted that by year 2020, 10 MW of energy capacity will be harnessed from the sun from photovoltaic structures. This will represent an initial phase followed by gradual increase during the decade to reach a potential of 1 GW by 2030.

The total cost of the JAXA project will be $21 billion. This sum is financed by the partners involved in the project. Major strategic alliances from the Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer include NEC Corporation, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Sharp Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Solar panels will be arrayed on many square kilometers in space and will float around the orbit of the earth. PV dishes set outside the earth atmosphere will capture rays from the sun, which are as much as five times stronger than beams on the earth surface. The energy generated will be sent to the earth via beams of microwaves or laser. JAXA says that these beams will be gathered at restricted areas of dam reservoirs or seas by parabolic antennae.

The cost of electricity generated is estimated to be at a rate of $0.09 per kilowatt-hour or JPY8.

There will be several years until solid results will be available. According to Tatsuhito Fujita, a researcher at JAXA says the timeframe allocated will be necessary for the design and research required to assure safe transmission via microwaves or lasers beams. JAXA confirms that the technology will be harmless. Yet, the public fears that the beams which will be present in the air might burn or cut anything in its way such as burning birds or cutting aircraft passing under the beams. Nevertheless, this unique project will definitely be an inspiration for other developed nations to follow.

Reference:

http://solar.energy-business-review.com/news/japans_1_gw_space_solar_power_system_to_be_launched_by_2030_jaxa_091110/