Energy · around 2045

Space-based solar power

Projection

Orbital solar arrays beam power to the ground by microwave, day and night.

In orbit, panels see sunlight almost continuously and without weather. Power would be beamed to receiving antennas on Earth, supplying firm clean electricity to places without good local resources.

Why it’s plausible: Falling launch costs and a 2023 in-orbit wireless power demonstration make it plausible; economics depend on launch cost per kilogram, lightweight panels and on-orbit assembly.

See it in the living treeWikipedia