Weeks after announcing the construction of the world’s largest dam, China has unveiled an ambitious plan to harness solar energy from space. Calling it “another Three Gorges Dam project above the Earth.” This groundbreaking initiative involves deploying a massive solar array in geostationary orbit. That will provide uninterrupted energy, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Three Gorges Dam in Space?
Long Lehao, a prominent Chinese rocket scientist, outlines this project. He aims to position a solar array one kilometer wide at 36,000 kilometers above Earth. This strategic placement allows the array to collect solar energy continuously. That would be free from disruptions caused by the planet’s day-night cycle or weather conditions.
Mr. Long compared the potential energy output of the space-based system to that of the Three Gorges Dam, which generates around 100 billion kWh annually. The dam, built on the Yangtze River, is so massive that NASA reported it slowed Earth’s rotation by 0.6 microseconds. “This is like moving the Three Gorges Dam to a geostationary orbit,” Mr. Long remarked.
He emphasized the project’s potential, stating, “The energy collected in one year would equal the total amount of oil that can be extracted from the Earth.”
Engineering Challenges and Breakthroughs
To bring this futuristic concept to life, China’s space technology must take monumental strides. The project will require super heavy-lift rockets. Mr. Long’s team is developing the Long March-9 (CZ-9) rocket as the primary launch vehicle.
The CZ-9, standing 110 meters tall, will be capable of carrying up to 150 tonnes to low Earth orbit. As a result, it will surpass NASA’s Saturn V and Space Launch System (SLS) rockets, which can handle 130 tonnes. Furthermore, Mr. Long highlighted that the CZ-9’s primary use will be constructing space-based solar power stations.
An Idea Decades in the Making
The concept of space-based solar power has long intrigued scientists and has been likened to the “Manhattan Project” of the energy sector. Although it has been a topic of discussion for decades, China’s initiative now marks a significant step toward realizing this vision.
By collecting solar energy in Earth’s orbit and transmitting it to the ground, the project could revolutionize the global energy landscape.
