English translation:
Power Plant in Space
Solar Power from Space for the Earth
A company in Canton Thurgau is now researching the feasibility – on behalf of the European Space Agency.
SRF1, Regionaljournal Ostschweiz
Friday , 10.12.2021, 14:34 Uhr
https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/kraftwerk-im-weltraum-solarstrom-aus-dem-weltall-fuer-die-erde
The idea sounds like science fiction: Huge satellites equipped with solar panels are supposed to provide clean electricity for the world from space. Arthur Woods is behind the vision. Woods was born in the USA in 1948. He has now been living in Switzerland for more than 40 years and c urrently lives near Frauenfeld.
The 73-year-old is best known in the region as an artist. He calls himself an astro artist. He has realized several space art projects. One of his works even traveled to the Russian space station “Mir” in 1993.
Arthur Woods has been fascinated by space since his youth.
“I’ve been interested in space since I was a teenager,” says Woods. He and his family lived very close to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and he witnessed many rocket launches there. Time and again in the past he asked himself how the infinite expanse of space could be used. Now he wants to work on the solar future with his one-man company “Astrostrom GmbH”.
Since there are neither clouds nor an atmosphere in space and sunlight can be captured practically around the clock, solar panels are much more effective there than on Earth. “The basic idea is to have large satellites in orbit that capture solar energy and then convert it into electricity,” says Woods. The energy would reach the Earth via microwaves.
Huge satellites equipped with solar cells are supposed to capture the sun’s energy. According to Woods’ idea, the electricity generated could be sent to Earth or, if necessary, also to the Moon.
The biggest problem is the logistics. Woods points out that satellites several kilometers in size would have to be launched into space with rockets. “That is why I propose to build the components of the power plants on the Moon.”
The European Space Agency (ESA) is also concerned with solar power from space. ESA recently looked for new ideas for solar power in space in a call for ideas. Arthur Woods submitted his vision and has since been commissioned by ESA to clarify the feasibility in more detail.
«Technically, there are no fundamental
barriers why space-based solar power plants
would not work.»
Leopold Summerer: European Space Agency (ESA)
In total, more than a dozen different ideas were selected for follow-up. Leopold Summerer is responsible for future missions at ESA and, with his team, was also responsible for the solar power plant competition. “Like all large space agencies, we have had this topic on our radar since the 1970s,” says Summerer.
Can solar energy from space compete with conventional forms of energy generation on earth?
(Image: Shutterstock)
ESA sees great potential to supply the Earth with clean energy from space. “After all the international studies that have already been done, there are technically no fundamental barriers why space-based solar power plants would not work,” says Summerer.
«How big can the contribution
of such stations be to building
a CO₂-neutral energy system in Europe by 2050?»
Leopold Summerer: European Space Agency (ESA)
The European Space Agency is currently trying to find out how attractive solar power plants in space would be compared to power plants on Earth. “How big can the contribution of such stations be to building a CO₂-neutral energy system in Europe by 2050?” – This is the key question that one now wants to answer, says Summerer.
Arthur Woods from the canton of Thurgau now has one year to put his solar power plant idea into concrete terms. He has put together a six-person team of experts to provide support. Among others, a space engineer and a space architect. Who knows, perhaps the findings from this feasibility study will end up as future space missions.
SRF1, Regionaljournal Ostschweiz; lies;zuers;buec
09.12.2021, 17.30 Uhr
