Is satellite-supplied power possible?

Question

What would be the most efficient frequency/medium to send energy collected by satellite to the earth's surface? (Assuming a mechanism can be derived to convert a useful amount of power from the solar spectrum present outside the atmosphere)
As so much more energy is available outside the atmosphere surely this is a future solution?

Answer 1

Concept originated in 1968.

Patent issued in 1973.

Read on...

"There is no engineering application that cannot be solved through sufficient application of funds"

Answer 2

One way scientists have been considering is to tether a satellite to the ground by a long conducting cable. It turns out that there is a large voltage difference between the ground and the altitude of a low orbit satellite. An example of this voltage difference is the striking of lightning from a cloud to the ground. If you could connect the satellite to a battery or an electric motor on the ground, you could collect significant amounts of electrical power. The problem is that the cable would have to be very long and thus weigh a lot - probably so much it couldn't keep it's own weight without breaking.

This process would also work with a balloon tethered to the ground and this is more engineeringly feasible. I believe DARPA is seriously looking at it.

In terms of collecting sunlight at a high orbit and transmitting in to earth, it can be done, but you need to consider how much extra solar energy is available up there, and how expensive it would be to collect it and send it down to earth. I'm sure it is not cost-effective, compared to earthly solar cells.

Answer 3

Solar cells are inefficient, typically convert ~15% of solar energy (light) into electrical energy. Next is to transfer the electrical energy from the satelite to the earth. One way would be to convert this to long wavelength EM radiation then radiate energy thru the atmosphere to an earth bound energy convertor, another inefficient process. This is not too practical with today's technology

With current technology, use satelite mirror system to illuminate earth-bound solar cells 24hr per day. Possible today, but i would guess it would be very expensive.

Answer 4

It is very possible, except that with current technology, you would need giant structures both in Earth, and in space.

One way to do it would be by using Electromagnetic Induction - of course there would be hundreds of problems with that, like navigation systems will be affected, you would need a lot of magnetic shielding on every day devices so that they don't start working by themselves, etc, etc, etc.

There are also other ways to transfer energy 'wirelessly', but they are not as developed. But yes, indeed, getting energy from outside of our atmosphere is a very likely, but very distant(in terms of time) solution.

Answer 5

not at all solar power gathered by modern satellites is barely enough to sustain the satellite, there is no excess to be beamed to earth. however if this were to be the case it is theorized that a high intensity laser beam would be projected from the satellite to another solar panel on earth. however this effectivly only transfers the power which could be gathered with equal ease using a regular earthbased panel.

Answer 6

I remember reading somewhere recently that a team of engineers had devised a way to transfer energy remotely, and their suggested uses for it were laptops and cell phones. You might be on to something.

Answer 7

satellites collect power through solar panels.

not very cost effective .

Answer 8

In theory... it is possible.

Eventually it might be practical.

Current technology... it won't work.