How Much Power Loss Can We Expect from Space-Based Solar Farms?

[Josh111]

I saw this article and wanted to see anyone is interested in discussing what percentage of power will be lost in transmission/transformation in a situation like this:Solar Plant in Space Gets Go-Aheadhttp://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/solar-plant-in-space-gets-go-ahead/?_r=1

http://qz.com/152384/japans-plan-to...-from-a-giant-solar-power-plant-on-the-moon/#!

 

[Simon Bridge]

Actually they should represent a gain over the equivalent ground-based systems since the flux harnessed has not been filtered by the atmosphere and the energy generated can be beamed at a frequency that largely bypasses the filtering.

It's an idea that's been around a while.

 

[Josh111]

Understood that there is less energy loss in irradiance, but how much energy is lost in the entire process of transforming the energy from electrical to microwave, transmitting it, and then transforming it again. Isn't it much higher than that of a induction transformer we use today?

 

[Simon Bridge]

Any equivalent process will have equivalent losses + the radio wave step.
So your question is, "how efficiently can we generate and receive radio-waves".

This is something you can look up.

The whole process breaks even, compared with equivalent ground-based solar plants, if the losses in the radio step are the same as the gains in additional irradience converted. Something else you can look up.

We don't know the exact processes proposed - but you can see the potential by assuming the most efficient process available for each step.

 

[pmacias]

I find the idea of extraterrestrial solar farms intriguing and potentially promising. However, there are several factors that need to be considered in terms of the practicality and efficiency of such a project.

One major concern is the amount of power that would be lost in transmission and transformation from the solar farm in space to Earth. This is a significant issue, as the longer the distance the power has to travel, the more energy is lost. Additionally, the transformation process from solar energy to usable electricity also results in some energy loss.

The percentage of power lost in transmission and transformation would depend on the specific technology and infrastructure used in the project. However, it is safe to assume that a significant amount of energy would be lost, potentially decreasing the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the extraterrestrial solar farm.

Another consideration is the cost of building and maintaining such a project. The technology and infrastructure needed for a solar farm in space would likely be very expensive, and the cost of transporting materials and personnel to and from space would also add to the overall cost.

Furthermore, there are also potential environmental and ethical concerns to consider. For example, the impact of launching and maintaining a large-scale project in space on our planet's resources and the potential disruption of natural ecosystems.

In conclusion, while the idea of an extraterrestrial solar farm is exciting, it is essential to carefully evaluate all the potential challenges and limitations before considering its feasibility. Further research and development are needed to address these concerns and determine if this is a viable solution for meeting our energy needs in the future.