Chinese scientists have announced a plan to build an enormous, 0. 6 mile (1 kilometer) wide solar power station in space that will beam continuous energy back to Earth via microwaves.
China has reportedly announced an ambitious plan to build large-scale solar power stations in space with the help of super-heavy rockets. The South China Moring Post (SCMP) reported that a senior rocket scientist, Long Lehao, is leading this ambitious endeavor. He likens this project to “another Three Gorges Dam project above the Earth.”
When did China start building a space solar power station?
In June 2021, China initiated the construction of its first experimental space solar power station in Bishan. In November 2023, researchers from the Xian University of Electronic Science and Technology published test results for the "Chasing Sun Project," the world's first complete ground verification system for space solar power.
Are space-based solar power stations the next big thing?
Space-based solar power stations are the next big thing. China is trying something bolder and bigger. China has reportedly announced an ambitious plan to build large-scale solar power stations in space with the help of super-heavy rockets.
China plans to build a 1km-wide solar array in the geostationary orbit about 36,000km above Earth. At this distance from atmospheric interferences such as day-night cycles and changing weather, the array will constantly gather solar energy, anticipated to surpass terrestrial photovoltaic systems by more than tenfold in efficiency.
Does China have a solar power plant?
China aims to solve this with the West-East Power Transmission and Western Development initiative by setting up renewable energy projects in sparsely populated western regions. As part of this initiative, it has now converted a former coal mining site into its largest single-capacity solar power plant.
The total project investment is RMB12 billion ($1.65 billion). The Mengxi Blue Ocean Photovoltaic Power Station is also special because it hosts the first large-scale outdoor solar testing base in the Gobi desert, helping China gather more data on setting up solar power plants in challenging environments.