• Question: if we put a lot of solar pannels out there in space would we get a lot of clean electricity

    Asked by jayb to Daniel, Derek, Ian, Phil, Upul on 17 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Derek Mann

      Derek Mann answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Not a physics man so my answer is guess work. But I would have thought that solar panels in space is a great idea as the strength of the solar energy is much greater in space than on the surface of our planet. The question I am unsure about is how we would rig those solar panels up in space, how the energy collected would be stored and then transported back to earth for us to use. Maybe Upal can help with this one?

    • Photo: Upul Wijayantha

      Upul Wijayantha answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Yes as the suns radiation is stronger in outer space as there is no atmosphere to absorb the light. NASA has been working on this idea for quite awhile. The hard part is to transport the energy to earth from outer space as no wire would be strong enough. But they have come up with the idea of using a laser to transfer the energy. There would be a laser on the satellite powered but the solar panels and a receiver on the ground to turn laser light in to heat or electrical energy.

    • Photo: Ian Sillett

      Ian Sillett answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Solar panels in space would produce electricity that’s for sure. There’s also plenty of room for them as no-one would live near them. The problem is that the electricity would be in space which is no good to us down here on Earth. It would be expensive to get them into space, keep them working and then deliver the electricity to you. Much cheaper to do it on Earth. Of course, if you need the power in space then they are a good solution which is why you seem them on satellites and the space station.

    • Photo: Daniel Mietchen

      Daniel Mietchen answered on 17 Jun 2010:

      We would probably get a lot of electricity there but it would certainly not be “clean”, since the establishment of such infrastructure would certainly use vast quantities of (mostly fossil) energy and large amounts of rare materials. Plus, the electricity has to get down to Earth somehow, and the infrastructure maintained (and occasionally repaired).

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