The campaign toward a sustainable source of energy is already in the books of some companies. By 2050, several organizations want to achieve zero carbon emissions toward a healthier Earth.
The European Space Agency or ESA, for instance, wants to participate in this trend by harnessing solar power from the sun. Although it sounds like what we see in the movies, the space agency believes that it's feasible to cater to the needs of all people on the planet.
What is Space-Based Solar Power?
Science fiction films often portray how humans utilize solar power for their needs. Apparently, it does not appear to be an easy task since tons of resources are needed to amass this kind of energy.
According to The Next Web, ESA aims to explore this program by gathering solar power 24/7. It wants to send it wirelessly to the planet via the receiver stations. Later, the space firm will feed it to an electrical grid to generate cheaper electricity.
This plan could take some time before being polished since this is not an ordinary program to begin.
To hasten the progress of this undertaking, ESA established its Solaris program across the continent. In the next three years, it assures that the whole of Europe will benefit from space-based solar power.
Of course, this program will undergo a feasibility study so experts can evaluate if it can thrive when new implementations are added. The experts are also aware of the risks of SBSP when it comes to decarbonization.
How Can ESA Achieve SBSP?
The construction of the machine for solar power is guaranteed to take longer time than anticipated. It's "economically feasible" since scientists are continuously seeking a cleaner energy source.
Originally, ESA planned to utilize a satellite that would be responsible for storing 2GW of power. It's somewhat similar to a nuclear facility capable of supplying electricity to millions of households worldwide.
ESA also considers how technological changes progress in the meantime, as well as the strategic benefits and deployment of the materials from the planet.
SBSP is seen to be a crucial breakthrough in the field of energy since it can help businesses and households in Europe by reducing the carbon footprint, as well as expanding the current renewables on the planet.
Could ESA Catch Up With the US and China?
The United States and China are both vying to host more space programs in the future as space exploration has become trending nowadays. However, it's still not answered whether Europe will join the trend or not.
According to Science Business, ESA might not catch up with the two space giants right now even though it has a €16.9 billion ($17.5 billion) budget.
Olivier Lemaitre, the Eurospace secretary-general, has acknowledged that this budget is a "positive result" that will increase Europe's chance to launch future space programs. However, it still won't suffice to the level that the US or China is currently sitting.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
