Comments on: Closer to the Sun: Satellite Solar is Out of This World http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/ Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Tue, 30 Dec 2014 05:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1 By: Moth’s Eyes May Hold Key to Solar Efficiency : CleanTechnica http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6683 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:07:23 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6683 […] Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy lab are working with the University of Florida’s Peng Jiang to study how special coatings that mimic structures found in nature can make solar cells more productive for commercial applications, homes and even space satellites. […]

]]> By: Matt http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6682 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:17:42 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6682 Surely these kind of developments in space, have problems with stellar objects, the amount of obejects hitting and damaging the cells would be such that there would have to be either people stationed to fix them, or many expeditions to fix them.

Though a great idea worthy of additional research, I can’t see how this would be financially viable.

]]> By: grey eminence http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6681 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:44:57 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6681 If it were a line source versus a point source it

could be possible.

The only problem is it is a point source and the inverse square law applies.

Making this what is typically called a pipe dream.

]]> By: grey eminence http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23137 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:44:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23137 If it were a line source versus a point source it

could be possible.

The only problem is it is a point source and the inverse square law applies.

Making this what is typically called a pipe dream.

]]> By: grey eminence http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23138 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:44:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23138 If it were a line source versus a point source it

could be possible.

The only problem is it is a point source and the inverse square law applies.

Making this what is typically called a pipe dream.

]]> By: Edouard (from France) http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6680 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:09:29 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6680 I have to admit I don’t really get the whole idea of sending heavy solar panels to space. There are already so many debris and waste around our planet…

Solar energies are great, but to me, they should stay on Earth. Grid parity will soon occur, sending those panels to space would delay that…

]]> By: Edouard (from France) http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23134 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:09:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23134 I have to admit I don’t really get the whole idea of sending heavy solar panels to space. There are already so many debris and waste around our planet…

Solar energies are great, but to me, they should stay on Earth. Grid parity will soon occur, sending those panels to space would delay that…

]]> By: Edouard (from France) http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23135 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:09:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23135 I have to admit I don’t really get the whole idea of sending heavy solar panels to space. There are already so many debris and waste around our planet…

Solar energies are great, but to me, they should stay on Earth. Grid parity will soon occur, sending those panels to space would delay that…

]]> By: Edouard (from France) http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23136 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:09:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23136 I have to admit I don’t really get the whole idea of sending heavy solar panels to space. There are already so many debris and waste around our planet…

Solar energies are great, but to me, they should stay on Earth. Grid parity will soon occur, sending those panels to space would delay that…

]]> By: Jnudan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6679 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:14:19 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6679 The physics and engineering of the concept has been studied numerous times in many countries over the last 30 years with little controversy on the technical feasibility… it is the cost side of the equation that has been the challenge. Now that we realize carbon emissions are going to eventually kill most of us, we must factor the real cost of carbon emissions into the equation, and large capacity carbonless energy sources like SBSP come out on top, with perhaps only nuclear power as a close competitor. SBSP is a theoretical solution to critical global problem and should not be judged by those with no solutions but only the naive conventional wisdoms that got us into the problem in the first place. We should investigate this option with the greatest of speed and effort like our life depends on it…. which of course it does.

]]> By: Jnudan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23130 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23130 The physics and engineering of the concept has been studied numerous times in many countries over the last 30 years with little controversy on the technical feasibility… it is the cost side of the equation that has been the challenge. Now that we realize carbon emissions are going to eventually kill most of us, we must factor the real cost of carbon emissions into the equation, and large capacity carbonless energy sources like SBSP come out on top, with perhaps only nuclear power as a close competitor. SBSP is a theoretical solution to critical global problem and should not be judged by those with no solutions but only the naive conventional wisdoms that got us into the problem in the first place. We should investigate this option with the greatest of speed and effort like our life depends on it…. which of course it does.

]]> By: Jnudan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23131 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23131 The physics and engineering of the concept has been studied numerous times in many countries over the last 30 years with little controversy on the technical feasibility… it is the cost side of the equation that has been the challenge. Now that we realize carbon emissions are going to eventually kill most of us, we must factor the real cost of carbon emissions into the equation, and large capacity carbonless energy sources like SBSP come out on top, with perhaps only nuclear power as a close competitor. SBSP is a theoretical solution to critical global problem and should not be judged by those with no solutions but only the naive conventional wisdoms that got us into the problem in the first place. We should investigate this option with the greatest of speed and effort like our life depends on it…. which of course it does.

]]> By: Jnudan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23132 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23132 The physics and engineering of the concept has been studied numerous times in many countries over the last 30 years with little controversy on the technical feasibility… it is the cost side of the equation that has been the challenge. Now that we realize carbon emissions are going to eventually kill most of us, we must factor the real cost of carbon emissions into the equation, and large capacity carbonless energy sources like SBSP come out on top, with perhaps only nuclear power as a close competitor. SBSP is a theoretical solution to critical global problem and should not be judged by those with no solutions but only the naive conventional wisdoms that got us into the problem in the first place. We should investigate this option with the greatest of speed and effort like our life depends on it…. which of course it does.

]]> By: Jnudan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23133 Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23133 The physics and engineering of the concept has been studied numerous times in many countries over the last 30 years with little controversy on the technical feasibility… it is the cost side of the equation that has been the challenge. Now that we realize carbon emissions are going to eventually kill most of us, we must factor the real cost of carbon emissions into the equation, and large capacity carbonless energy sources like SBSP come out on top, with perhaps only nuclear power as a close competitor. SBSP is a theoretical solution to critical global problem and should not be judged by those with no solutions but only the naive conventional wisdoms that got us into the problem in the first place. We should investigate this option with the greatest of speed and effort like our life depends on it…. which of course it does.

]]> By: Charles Vismeg http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6678 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:58:34 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6678 From my basic engineering experience I could only agree with the first 3 commenters. Even if the task of the proposed concept is actualized, the cost alone is so high that the allocated funds would be much better spent on simple, current(and evolving) tech solar installations as we know them today. Efficiency and efficacy of the concept may be another enourmous hurdle that I’m not ready to contemplate. At any rate, it’s reassuring that the quest for finding solution to humankind’s basic (energy) needs are really alive.

]]> By: justwatching http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6677 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:37:24 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6677 If you think photovoltiacs are expencive on earth just wait till you see the additional cost of launching them into orbit. $5 per watt or more on earth today and no one can afford them and the price is climbing. I bought 120 watt pannels in 2004 at $2.46 per watt and now those same pannels are 0ver $8 per watt. This is not a practical idea.

]]> By: justwatching http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23127 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:37:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23127 If you think photovoltiacs are expencive on earth just wait till you see the additional cost of launching them into orbit. $5 per watt or more on earth today and no one can afford them and the price is climbing. I bought 120 watt pannels in 2004 at $2.46 per watt and now those same pannels are 0ver $8 per watt. This is not a practical idea.

]]> By: justwatching http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23128 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:37:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23128 If you think photovoltiacs are expencive on earth just wait till you see the additional cost of launching them into orbit. $5 per watt or more on earth today and no one can afford them and the price is climbing. I bought 120 watt pannels in 2004 at $2.46 per watt and now those same pannels are 0ver $8 per watt. This is not a practical idea.

]]> By: justwatching http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-23129 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:37:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-23129 If you think photovoltiacs are expencive on earth just wait till you see the additional cost of launching them into orbit. $5 per watt or more on earth today and no one can afford them and the price is climbing. I bought 120 watt pannels in 2004 at $2.46 per watt and now those same pannels are 0ver $8 per watt. This is not a practical idea.

]]> By: Keith Henson http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/18/closer-to-the-sun-satellite-solar-is-out-of-this-world/#comment-6676 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:40:02 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=2659#comment-6676 There are a lot of problems with power satellites and transporting millions of tons of parts to GEO, but getting the energy back via microwaves has been understood for more than 40 years.

And the basic physics (optics) has been around more than 200 years.

There was a lot of recent discussion about this on The Oil Drum http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5485

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