Humanity needs crystal clean energy in environmental terms, since modern methods of generating energy seriously pollute the environment. Experts see a way out of the impasse in innovative methods. They are associated with the use of space energy.
Initial ideas
The story began in 1968. Then Peter Glazer demonstrated the idea of massive satellite technology. A solar collector was mounted to them. Its size is 1 square mile. The equipment was supposed to be located at an altitude of 36,000 km above the equator zone. The goal is to collect and transform solar energy into an electromagnetic band, a microwave stream. In this way, useful energy should be transmitted to huge terrestrial antennas.
In 1970, the US Department of Energy, together with NASA, studied the Glaser project. This is the Solar Power Satellite (abbreviation SPS).
Three years later, the scientist was granted a patent for the proposed method. The idea, if implemented, would bring outstanding results. But there weredifferent calculations were carried out, and it turned out that the planned satellite would generate 5000 MW of energy, and the Earth would reach three times less. We also determined the estimated costs for this project - $ 1 trillion. This forced the government to close the program.
90s
In the future, the satellites were planned to be located at a more modest height. To do this, they had to use low earth orbits. This concept was developed in 1990 by researchers from the Center. M. V. Keldysh.
According to their plan, 10-30 special stations should be built in the 20-30s of the 21st century. Each of them will include 10 energy modules. The total parameter of all stations will be 1.5 - 4.5 GW. On Earth, the indicator will reach values from 0.75 to 2.25 GW.
And by 2100, the number of stations will be increased to 800. The level of energy received on Earth will be 960 GW. But today there is no information even about the development of a project based on this concept.
NASA and Japan actions
In 1994, a special experiment was carried out. It was hosted by the US Air Force. They placed advanced photovoltaic satellites in low earth orbit. Rockets were used for this purpose.
From 1995 to 1997, NASA conducted a thorough study of space energy. Its concepts and technological specifics were analyzed.
In 1998, Japan intervened in this area. Her space agency launched a program to build a space electrical system.
In 1999, NASA responded by launching a similar program. In 2000, a representative of this organization, John McKins, spoke before the US Congress with a statement that the planned developments require huge expenses and high-tech equipment, as well as more than one decade.
In 2001, the Japanese announced a plan to intensify research and launch a test satellite with parameters of 10 kW and 1 MW.
In 2009, their space exploration agency announced their intention to send a special satellite into orbit. It will send solar energy to Earth using microwaves. Its initial prototype should be launched in 2030.
Also in 2009, an important agreement was signed between two organizations - Solaren and PG&E. According to it, the first company will produce energy in space. And the second will buy it. The power of such energy will be 200 MW. This is enough to provide 250,000 residential buildings with it. According to some reports, the project began to be implemented in 2016.
In 2010, the Shimizu concern published material about the potential construction of a large-scale station on the moon. Solar panels will be used in large quantities. A belt will be built from them, which will have parameters of 11,000 and 400 km (length and width, respectively).
In 2011, several large Japanese companies conceived a global joint project. It involved the use of 40 satellites with mounted solar batteries. Electromagnetic waves will become conductors of energy to the Earth. The mirror will take themhaving a diameter of 3 km. It will be concentrated in the desert zone of the ocean. The project was scheduled to launch in 2012. But for technical reasons, this did not happen.
Problems in practice
The development of space energy can save humanity from cataclysms. However, the practical implementation of projects has many difficulties.
As planned, the location of a network of satellites in space has the following advantages:
- Constant exposure to the Sun, that is, continuous action.
- Complete independence from the weather and the position of the planet's axis.
- No dilemmas with the mass of structures and their corrosion.
The implementation of the plans is complicated by the following problems:
- Huge parameters of the antenna - the transmitter of energy to the surface of the planet. So, for example, for the intended transmission to occur using microwaves having a frequency of 2.25 GHz, the diameter of such an antenna would be 1 km. And the diameter of the zone receiving the energy flow on Earth should be at least 10 km.
- Energy loss when moving to Earth is about 50%.
- Colossal expenses. For one country, these are very significant amounts (several tens of billions of dollars).
These are the pros and cons of space energy. Leading powers are engaged in elimination and minimization of its shortcomings. For example, American developers are trying to solve financial dilemmas with the help of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rockets. These devices will significantly reduce the cost of implementing the planned program (in particular, launching SBSP satellites).
Lunar program
According to the concept of David Criswell, it is essential to use the Moon as a base for placing the necessary equipment.
This is the optimal place to solve the dilemma. Besides, where is it possible to develop space energy, if not on the Moon? This is a territory that does not have an atmosphere and weather. Power generation here can go on continuously with solid efficiency.
In addition, many components of the batteries can be built from lunar materials, such as soil. This significantly reduces costs by analogy with other station variations.
The situation in Russia
The country's space energy industry is developing on the basis of the following principles:
- Providing energy is a social and political problem on a planetary scale.
- Environmental safety is the merit of competent space research. Green energy tariffs should be applied. Here, the social significance of its bearer is necessarily taken into account.
- Continuous support for innovative energy programs.
- Percentage of electricity generated by nuclear power plants needs to be optimized.
- Identification of the optimal ratio of energy with ground and space concentration.
- Application of space aviation for education and energy transmission.
Space energy in Russia interacts with the program of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO. Lavochkin. The idea is based on the use of solar collectors and radiation antennas. Basic technologies - autonomous satellites controlled from the Earth atpilot pulse assistance.
The microwave spectrum with short, even millimeter waves, is used for the antenna. Due to this, narrow rays will appear in outer space. This will require generators and amplifiers of modest parameters. Then significantly smaller antennas will be needed.
Initiative of TsNIIMash
In 2013, this organization (which is also the key scientific division of Roscosmos) proposed to build domestic space solar power plants. Their intended power was in the range of 1-10 GW. Energy must be transmitted to Earth wirelessly. For this purpose, unlike the US and Japan, Russian scientists intended to use a laser.
Nuclear policy
Location of solar batteries in space implies certain advantages. But here it is important to strictly observe the necessary orientation. Technique should not be in the shadows. In this regard, a number of experts are skeptical about the lunar program.
And today the most effective method is "Space nuclear power - solar space power". It involves placing a powerful nuclear reactor or generator in space.
The first option has a huge mass and requires careful monitoring and maintenance. Theoretically, it will be able to work autonomously in space for no more than a year. This is too short a time for space programs.
The second one has a solid efficiency. But in space conditions it is difficult to varyits power. Today, American scientists from NASA are developing an improved model of such a generator. Domestic specialists are also actively working in this direction.
General motives for the development of space energy
They can be internal and external. The first category includes:
- A sharp increase in the world's population. According to some forecasts, the number of inhabitants of the Earth by the end of the 21st century will be more than 15 billion people.
- Energy consumption continues to rise.
- The use of classical methods of energy generation is becoming irrelevant. They are based on oil and gas.
- Negative impact on climate and atmosphere.
The second category includes:
- Periodic falls on the planet of large parts of meteorites and comets. According to statistics, this happens once a century.
- Changes in magnetic poles. Although the frequency here is once every 2000 years, there is a threat that the north and south poles will switch places. Then for some time the planet will lose its magnetic field. This is fraught with serious radiation damage, but well-established space energy could become a defense against such disasters.
