A solar farm will be launched into space – with greater efficiency than on Earth
American scientists will send a farm into orbit to extract solar energy directly from space
The California Institute of Technology has raised $100 million for the first-ever launch of a prototype solar farm into orbit.
The space power station, which is independent of weather conditions, will operate 24/7/365. Just one square meter of a solar panel in orbit can provide eight times more energy than a panel on Earth. The panels are also capable of converting solar energy into radio frequencies.
The system consists of several 10 cm slabs, each weighing less than three grams. The solar farm is made up of modules that can be stacked to fit on a launch vehicle. The total area of the farm, as planned by scientists, will reach 9 km².
The developers intend to test the prototype in space as early as December 2022.
