Space: There are stars and "electrical" light

Space solar power plant work schematic.

From water energy to geothermal energy, from wind energy to bioenergy, humans have been trying to find cleaner and more efficient energy sources to replace traditional fossil energy. Space has become a blue ocean where some thinkers have unlocked the energy of the earth. Building solar power stations in space is their new vision for the main energy source.

Maybe someone will think this dream is far away. However, we will also benefit from the realization of our dreams. Material technologies and solar energy utilization technologies are all likely to fly over. This scientific fiction that is still fermenting, its processes and results will all give us a good taste.

“Building China’s main power station into space” was a moving idea that was fermented in a small building of the China Academy of Space Technology in Beijing. One elder man described us to a wonderful picture.

Who can become the "new main force" beyond traditional fossil energy?

In the long-spaced space and above the geosynchronous orbit, a solar power station with an area comparable to that of the Forbidden City floats, transforming hot sunlight into energy and transmitting it to the earth for the benefit of mankind.

This scene is the dream of Wang Xiji and colleagues of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for more than 30 years. The development of space solar power stations, they believe, is the fundamental way to solve China's energy problems.

Coal, oil, and natural gas have been China's "food staples" for many years and account for about 90% of energy consumption. The two predictions have made China’s energy “food and clothing” a little extravagant.

One is about oil. According to the planning report of the Ministry of Land and Resources, currently China's proven oil can only be mined for about 14 years. Despite the fact that more than 1 billion tons of proven reserves can be added each year, the reality of the relative lack of exploitable reserves is still severe.

The other is about coal. China's proven reserves of coal are nearly 200 billion tons, and its annual output of 2.5 billion tons of raw coal is estimated to be for exploitation only for 80 years, but it is a person's life.

“In recent years, China’s dependence on foreign oil and natural gas has exceeded 50%.” Sun Jiahai, deputy director of the Ministry of Land and Resources, told the media.

In the nineteenth year of the year, Wang Laopu opened up a piece of information and spoke about the energy issue. "China's growing demand for energy is probably not going to stop for decades." Wang Lao used his fingers to compare "seven" and "7 billion tons of standard coal, which is an estimate of China's 2021 energy consumption by experts. ”

"One day, when China's last piece of coal is thrown into the coal stove, what will China feed itself?" Wang raised it when he asked this question. Behind the seriousness is an anxious reality: In addition to coal, oil, and natural gas, their potential "successors" have their own deficiencies.

Wang Lao pointed up his fingers and counted them one by one: “Water energy is limited; wind energy, ground solar energy, instability; nuclear energy, there are certain security risks. These energy sources can meet some of the needs and as a supplement, but they can be solved. With regard to energy, we need a fundamental way out.”

Receive solar energy in space, more stable and more effective

“Inexhaustible and inexhaustible” is Wang Lao’s description of solar energy. “If solar energy becomes the main energy source, then we don’t need to dig up the earth.”

Unlike the solar energy that we generally understand, the solar energy in Wanglaokou comes from space. "More specifically, it is to build solar power stations in geosynchronous orbit."

The geosynchronous orbit, 36,000 kilometers from the ground, is equivalent to more than 20 miles between Beijing and Shanghai. Why do we have to work hard to move a solar power station to this place where there is no air?

Because of stability. “Utilizing solar energy on the ground, it fluctuates every day and every day, clouds and fog weaken, and the intensity varies in the early morning and late hours. At night, it completely disappears.” Wang Lao introduced that in the geosynchronous orbit, 99% of the time Stable to receive sunlight.

It is also more efficient because of stability. "At the same time, the intensity of sunlight in space is 5-12 times the average sunshine intensity on the surface." Hou Xinbin, deputy director of the space new system research and development department of the China Academy of Space Technology, used the research data to support the advantages of space.

The topic of space solar power stations in the world’s major spacefaring nations has been discussed for more than 40 years. Japanese media even declare that they will realize the dream of space power generation after 2025. In China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences proposed a "four-step" strategy in the "Spanish Solar Power Plant Technology Development Forecasts and Countermeasures Research Report" and believes that China may develop the first commercial space solar power station system in 2030-2050 to achieve space. Solar power station commercial operation.

In Hou Xinbin's view, there are greater benefits hidden on the way to this goal: "Space solar power plants are the largest space infrastructure projects that can be envisaged at present. Such a large project will lead to the development of many technologies." Solar cells may become more durable and efficient as a result, and material technology may also get a huge boost. "The impact of the process may not be as good as the result."

Wang Lao believes that after the space solar power station is built, it will create a magical country full of energy anywhere and anytime. Space solar power stations receive space solar energy through giant solar panels, and deliver them to ground receiving equipment in the form of microwave beams and convert them into electrical energy. In this way, there is no need to look around for outlets. Anytime, anywhere, mobile phones, appliances, and even cars can all be charged. (See photo) “It will fundamentally change the place and manner in which humans obtain energy, and it may lead to a new industrial revolution.”

The national "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" proposes to seize the commanding heights of future science and technology competition in areas such as space science. In Wang Lao’s view, space solar power stations are the best stage for their display.

Sending 10,000-ton power stations into space is still a problem

Although solar energy is inexhaustible, the location on the geosynchronous orbit suitable for our country is still limited. "If you do not take the lead, you may lose the most favorable position." In Wang Lao's view, China should take the initiative to "grab the seat."

Hou Xinbin believes that compared to Japan and the United States’ research and development work, China has not even discussed the stage of “grabbing” or “grabbing.” “We are still in the drafting stage, which is equivalent to drafting a road map.” Delayed in getting started, technology is the main cause of restraint.

Due to its large size, heavy weight, and high power, the characteristics of these three space solar power plants have caused many technicians to sigh. “Our current spacecraft is only 10 tons, but a space power station is at least 10,000 tons. How to send it to the sky and partially assemble it, which is a very big test for the existing technology. Hou Xinbin did not even come up with a concrete method of realization.

If these technical problems only stay at the "skill" level, then even at the "Tao" level, China does not seem to be ready. “Although the scientific and technological community has drawn up a road map, the higher level has not yet come up with a complete solution.” Hou Xinbin believes that only by setting up a system framework can we decompose the tasks and break them one by one. Now the seminars are often “East”. A hoe and a stick in the west."

“China has the basic conditions for building a space solar power station first, and there are also talented people first, but we must first have a preemptive sense.” In Wang Lao’s opinion, as long as the state concentrates its efforts, we can form a space development field. Advantage, "This road can go through."