China surpasses the U.S. in a new race: where the country harnesses "endless" energy.

As proposed by China, a space-based solar power station (SBSP) could revolutionize the design of global energy supply by capturing solar energy from space and transmitting it to Earth. This is reported by ECO News.

The Chinese SBSP project envisions the construction of a colossal solar array one kilometer wide, positioned in geostationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers above Earth.

Unlike terrestrial passive solar collectors, this orbital system will collect solar energy 24/7, without interruptions due to weather conditions or the Earth's rotation from day to night.

The collected energy will be converted into microwave energy and sent back to Earth, where ground receivers will convert it into electricity. The potential is staggering. Researchers have shown that solar energy in space is at least 10 times more potent than on Earth, as atmospheric effects are absent.

If successful, China's solar power station could generate as much energy as is extracted from oil in an entire year. By 2050, if the fully operational system matures, its output is expected to be comparable to that of a nuclear power reactor, which is a scalable and renewable energy source.

Space-based solar panels are not constrained by earthly limitations, such as atmospheric weather or the position of the sun. Unlike ground systems, which may be limited by daylight and cloud cover, orbital arrays can capture solar energy continuously from one day to the next.

This uninterrupted supply ensures stable and reliable energy production. The absence of atmospheric disturbances allows for significantly enhanced energy conversion efficiency in space. Furthermore, this technology does not require more land than conventional solar farms, preserving habitats and agricultural land.

By 2050, the volumes of harvested energy could substantially reduce dependence on fossil fuels and provide solutions to chronic electricity shortages worldwide. Space-based solar harvesting offers us an endless range of scalable potential in solar energy collection capacity.

This could provide remote and underserved areas with access to clean energy, improving the global energy balance. Additionally, this initiative would position China as a global innovator in renewable energy (similar to how China has outpaced the rest of the world) with a motivating ripple effect for other countries to rapidly develop and adopt SBSP technology.

Despite its promises, the project faces significant challenges. Among these, the development of efficient wireless energy transmission is paramount. Broad-spectrum high-frequency microwave emissions based on Doppler principles from space to Earth depend on strictly controlled technology to ensure safety and minimize environmental impact. Moreover, constructing a one-kilometer-wide array in orbit presents a complex logistical challenge.

Engineers will need to develop materials strong enough to withstand harsh space environments and design robots for assembly. Financial viability is also a concern, as designing super-heavy rockets, such as China's Long March-9, typically requires substantial investments.

In response to these challenges, China aims to demonstrate key technologies aboard its Tiangong space station and conduct small-scale demonstrations starting in 2028. A geostationary orbit prototype will be tested for energy transmission methods by 2030, with full-scale deployment expected by 2050.

China's SBSP program represents a significant step in the right direction toward a green future. With the potential for continuous, efficient, and scalable energy generation, this project could transform how the world meets its energy needs.

Although there are still some challenges, the advancements made by China and other countries in this field highlight the necessity for innovation in addressing global energy demands.

Perhaps there is no closer place for solar power in space than we imagine, but it could bring visions of a cleaner and more sustainable world (like those solar panels made from uranium).

Earlier, we reported that on January 16, the first launch into space of the New Glenn rocket from Blue Origin, owned by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, took place. While the second stage of the rocket successfully reached orbit, the first reusable stage failed to land on the floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean.