Europe plans to move forward with research into the feasibility of space-based solar power to supply clean energy to the region.
While promising a source of clean, continuous energy, space-based solar power faces many technological, economic, policy, and hardware challenges. Then there is the challenge of distributing all that electricity efficiently once it arrives at a ground station. This is really the stuff of science fiction today, but so were space travel and nuclear power not so long ago.The ESA commissioned feasibility studies from the Frazer-Nash consulting group in the UK and Roland Berger in Germany.
“Our report recommends that the Government incorporates space based solar power into relevant policies, including Net Zero pathways and the National Space Strategy. A staged technology development and demonstration program should be initiated with urgency which would see an orbital demonstrator by 2031, and an operational system by 2040.
Certainly the idea of SBSP should be studied, assessed, and analyzed to see if it can actually deliver on its promise. Perhaps there is merit to the idea, but those countervailing factors should be given due consideration as well. We once thought asbestos was a miracle material and that nuclear energy had no significant drawbacks. We should be careful what we wish for — we just might get it.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Dr. Birx says reliance on Europe for early COVID-19 data an 'indictment of our system'Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator under the Trump administration, said having to lean on data coming out of Europe during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was an 'indictment of our system.'
Read more »
Europe slips toward recession as ECB mulls steps ahead: Eco Week(Bloomberg) — Europeans returning from their summer breaks will find a more fragile economy that risks buckling under the threats of energy rationing, record inflation and tighter monetary po…
Read more »
Hydrogen-powered GR Yaris debuts in EuropeToyota used the Ypres Rally to demonstrate its GR Yaris H2 outside of Japan for the first time.
Read more »
NIO Confirms First Shipment Of ET7 Sedans Has Set Sail For EuropeThe ET7 will become NIO's second all-electric model to debut in Europe following the ES8 SUV launched in Norway last year.
Read more »
2 Visions Clash Over How to Fight Online Child Abuse in EuropeA new EU proposal would enable courts to force tech companies to scan their users’ images, videos, and texts in search of child abuse or grooming. But the proposed law has no exemptions for users' private messages.
Read more »
Threat of energy shortages mount as Moscow stops gas supply to Europe for 3 daysThe Russian state owned energy company Gazprom said it will shut its supplies to Europe off for there days at the end of August amid concerns over gas shortages.
Read more »