Electricity from orbiting solar-powered lasers

Electric from solar harnessed on earth, common thing, but solar harnessed from sun in orbit is very brilliant. This technology came from Japan, by the researchers at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Osaka University Institute of Laser Engineering.

Relying on plates made from a special ceramic material containing chromium (which absorbs the sunlight) and neodymium (which efficiently converts sunlight to laser light), the newly developed lasers demonstrated an impressive 42% solar-to-laser energy conversion efficiency, outperforming previous technology by a factor of four.

The researchers say the new laser technology will play a key role in JAXA’s “Space Solar Power Systems” (SSPS) project, which aims to put space-based power systems in orbit by the year 2030. By mounting the system on a satellite in stationary orbit 36,000 km (22,400 mi.) above the equator, sunlight would be collected and converted into a powerful laser beam, which would then be aimed at a terrestrial power station and used to generate electricity or produce hydrogen.

Compared to earthbound solar power stations, this new technology not subject to night-time darkness and cloudy conditions, and be able to make use of solar energy 24 hours a day.