Article

2023-06-15 Britain

UK to Search for Energy Independence in Outer Space

[Power Technology, hat tip to Epoch Times] The UK government has announced £4.3m ($5.4m) in funding for the development of space-based solar. The funding will be used to develop solar panels to be deployed in space alongside wireless technology that will transmit the electricity they produce to Earth.

Speaking at London Tech Week on 13 June, Grant Shapps, the UK’s Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, announced the universities and tech companies that will receive a share of the funding.

"Space-based solar energy farms could deliver clean energy day and night, far more efficiently, and of course in all weathers," Shapps told audiences. "Space-based solar could generate up to 10GW of electricity by 2050 [...] it would be sufficient to power about three quarters of Britain’s homes," he went on.

"With the climate clock ticking, innovation has never been so important," Shapps said on Tuesday. "Half of the emissions reductions required to meet net zero by 2050 will have to come from technologies which are not yet commercially totally available. Or even partially."

The announcement comes amid several recent developments in the space-based solar industry, which Shapps referred to in his speech. The California Institute of Technology has successfully transmitted solar power to Earth from space in a world first. Additionally, the University of Pennsylvania has developed new ultra-lightweight solar cells for use in space.
I suppose this is in the Green New Deal, right? Somewhere?

Posted by Bobby 2023-06-15 07:50|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 and of course in all weathers

Nope.
No better than HughesNet or Viasat.

Posted by Skidmark 2023-06-15 09:04|| 2023-06-15 09:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Not to mention that the transmitted energy, in the form of microwaves, would necessarily heat up the target reciever areas and the air above it. It's not like they're gonna have a big wire hanging down from space.

Posted by ed in texas 2023-06-15 10:34|| 2023-06-15 10:34|| Front Page Top

#3 With the climate clock ticking, innovation has never been so important

Booga Booga!

Not to mention that the transmitted energy, in the form of microwaves, would necessarily heat up the target reciever areas and the air above it. It's not like they're gonna have a big wire hanging down from space.

But he Fucking Loves Science!

Posted by swksvolFF 2023-06-15 12:41|| 2023-06-15 12:41|| Front Page Top

#4 Everybody in the UK will need a Faraday cage to store their bags of popcorn.

Posted by Super Hose 2023-06-15 12:45|| 2023-06-15 12:45|| Front Page Top

14:55 NN2N1
14:09 Grom the Affective
14:04 Super Hose
14:02 Super Hose
13:37 Procopius2k
13:35 Grom the Affective
13:34 Procopius2k
13:27 Grom the Affective
13:21 NN2N1
13:18 Grom the Affective
12:50 Remoteman
12:45 Secret Master
12:24 Matt
12:07 Abu Uluque
12:03 Grom the Affective
11:59 Grom the Affective
11:35 Super Hose
11:33 Super Hose
11:29 Besoeker
11:28 Besoeker
11:28 Super Hose
11:27 Besoeker
11:23 Besoeker
11:22 Grom the Affective