One MILLION EEE-VIL Dollars

I read an article recently in Popular Science about the future of energy. One of the more interesting ideas was the possibility for space-based solar power. Here's the reasoning: solar power has limitations because solar cells right now are still being developed and the efficiency of these cells has not reached optimal levels yet. Not only are they not as efficient as possible, they also have physical limits-- they can't be charged at night, sometimes it's cloudy or it rains. In 2007, a study by the National Space Society estimates that a half-mile wide band of photovoltaics could be used in geosynchronous orbit (read: will orbit in a way so that is never has to be on the dark side of the planet) could generate the energy equivalent of all the oil remaining on the planet over the course of one year.

Let me repeat that because that statistic boggled my mind a little bit. All the oil on the planet. Add it all up. Would be generated in a single year if we used these space-based photovoltaic cells.

Of course though, there are some questions. How do we  get the power that is generated in space back down to earth? How do we store it? Is it safe? (I have mental images of Dr. Evil's  EEEE-vil space laser right now, not going to lie.) Initial plans indicate that satellites outfitted with solar panels would gather sun's energy 24 hours a day, and then convert that energy into an infrared laser beam (some energy would be lost-- the prediction says that the laser will be able to convert about 80% of the energy to ground-based receivers).  What's more, the DoD estimates that there could be military applications of being able to beam energy into the battlefield, since transporting fuel can reach $400/gallon in those delivery situations.

For those who have concerns about how beaming a giant infrared laser through our atmosphere to a giant receiver (9700 square foot receiving stations) might affect our environment or the safety of the living organisms on the planet, no worries! Because of the wavelength of the laser, the beam should not damage any animals that might stray into the path of the giant (EEE-VIL) laser. 

More fun facts:

• Project annual global energy consumption by 2030: 220 billion kilowatts
• Amount of solar energy available from a single orbiting satellite: 1 to 2 gigawatts
• Width of a power transmission beam: 60 feet
• Potential size of satellite: 500 square feet
• Initial pilots: In 2008, physicists beamed 20 watts at microwave frequencies from a mountain on Maui to the island of Hawaii (a distance of 92 miles)