Europe Joins the Space (Solar Power) Race | Next 100

By , Posted 02/03/10

Link: http://www.next100.com/2010/02/europe-looks-to-space-for-sola.php?utm_source=...

"While Solaren (a U.S. solar energy firm) and JAXA (the Japanese Space Agency) envision beaming power via radio waves, Astrium (a European aerospace giant) is working instead on high-powered infrared lasers to carry the energy. Astrium is also collaborating with scientists at the University of Surrey to develop devices that convert infrared energy to electricity. Its chief technology officer says a space mission to demonstrate the technology should be feasible within five years, according to Aviation Week and Space Technology.

Solaren's Nansen said the United States lags in the development of space solar power, despite many years of studying its potential, because NASA says it's an energy program, and the Department of Energy says it's a space program. So unless private U.S. companies can deliver, expect Japan, Europe or even Russia to take the lead.

Nansen, like a growing number of experts believes space must become the next great source of clean energy here on Earth. Agree or not, you can believe him when he says, "I’ve worked on this long enough to know it’s not easy."