Already heard it and does it sound like science fiction to you? According to the results of a 3-year study with 10 nations involved conducted by the International Academy of Astronautics, it could be a reality within 10 years.
The biggest disadvantage of today's solar energy is that it doesn't work in the evening or when the sky is cloudy: in space, on the contrary, the Sun is present 24 hours a day, 24 days a week. No storms, no clouds. The obvious solution to the problem, therefore, is to move all the photovoltaic capacity into orbit: the International Academy of Astronautics is studying the system that can best satisfy this need in the shortest possible time.
The plans developed by the association include quite a few solar panels in orbit on the equator, capable of collecting energy from the sun and sending it to Earth: a few dozen systems would provide energy greater than the planet's current needs.
According to Research, we already have the technology to develop such a project within 10 years, and to make it economically sustainable within 30 years. It's clear that it's one thing to have abstract possibilities, it's another thing to have the money to realize them: however, the increase in private space flights and an improvement in the world economy (heck, it can't rain forever) could lower costs and allow this enormous result within 20 years, at the 'modest' price of a few tens of billion euros.
