World’s First Solar Power Space-Based Module Proposed to Provide Energy for California-

PG&E is working with the state of California to provide electricity generation for its residents from a solar electricity hub based in outer space. The proposed power purchase agreement calls for the collection of 200 MW by space-based solar arrays over a fifteen year span and will be beamed down to earth through data frequencies. PG&E is currently seeking permission from regulators to formulate a deal with Solaren, a large solar power engineering company, to put the system in place and it is projected that the commercial construction will take place by 2016 if the purchase agreement is a go. Solaren’s solar power satellite would consist of mirror arrays up to several kilometers wide, which would focus sunlight onto photoconductive cells. The harnessed energy would then be converted into a microwave beam directed toward earth, where it would be converted into electricity. Solaren reports that the pioneering system could generate between 1.2-4.8 GW of power, which is equivalent to most other means of renewable energy generation. The advantages to controlling solar energy directly in space are vast simply because the sun’s radiation can be harnessed at all times of day, without concern of severe weather or cloudy days. Still, a great number of regulatory and expense barriers linger but Solaren CEO Gary Spirnak remains hopeful about the project, stating “This will be the world’s first space solar power plant. While a system of this scale and exact configuration has not been built, the underlying technology is very mature and is based on communications satellite technology.” It seems these innovative ideas are just scratching the surface of green energy technologies; we may just be surprised as to what we are in store for next.