Ben Bova, president of the National Space Society, says the time is right for NASA to build and launch a $1 billion solar power satellite. The technology has been around for quite some time, starting with the grandfather of electricity, Nicola Tesla.
The 1 kilometer-squared satellite could absorb the sun's rays, uninterrupted from weather and shoot electricity down to Earth in the form of microwaves. How much electricity? About "five to ten gigawatts of energy--more than enough for California's 4.4-gigawatt appetite."
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Solar-powered Satellites
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the energy industry by harnessing solar power from satellites.
- Wireless Power Transmission
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Enable wireless transmission of electricity from space to Earth, revolutionizing the way power is distributed.
- Renewable Energy Infrastructure
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create a new infrastructure for transmitting renewable energy, reducing dependence on traditional power sources.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Energy
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Transform the energy sector by integrating satellite-powered solar energy into the grid.
- Space & Satellite Technology
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Pioneer the development and deployment of solar-powered satellites, advancing the capabilities of space technology.
- Renewable Energy
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate solar power satellites into renewable energy systems, offering a new and sustainable source of electricity.
