Japan and its space agency, JAXA, have been conducting experiments for decades to enable humans to harness direct solar energy from space. Now, they have set a target to achieve this technology by 2025.
In 2015, Japan made a breakthrough in their experiments. JAXA scientists successfully beamed 1.8 kilowatts of power to a wireless receiver located 50 meters away. Although not a significant amount, the power was enough to operate an electric kettle.
According to Nikkei, Japan, in collaboration with various partners, will soon conduct real-world experiments with a target set for 2025. They will launch small satellites into orbit, which will then transmit the collected solar energy to receiving stations on the ground hundreds of kilometers away.
The project will be led by Naoki Shinohara, a professor from Kyoto University who has been researching solar energy from space since 2009. In reality, this idea is not new, and various experiments have been conducted since it was first proposed in 1968.
Several major countries, including China and the United States, have invested time and money to realize this concept. This technology, which may not have crossed your minds, is undeniably remarkable.
It is possible that we will have access to potentially limitless renewable energy from our own solar system. Let’s wait and see how it develops in the future.
