While interesting, this dream team of engineers is trying to tackle a problem that has many more commercially, economically and environmentally viable solutions.
For one, solar power may be easier to harness in outer space. But there's a problem: it's in outer space. There is no reason why we should be resorting to such measures when we have the potential to harness solar energy here on the earth's surface.
There are energy demands that must be met, and it is true that our needs will grow exponentially. However, more earthlings than ever (percentage-wise) have a sufficient source of energy, and I believe this number will continue to climb.
This is not to say that this company's efforts are a waste of time. Far from it. We need overambitious entrepreneurs to at least attempt these solutions so that we can better gauge the difficulty of the problem at hand. While this technology may not be realistically implementable, it very may well lead to a newer, more efficient way of harnessing solar energy. If this technology works, more power to them. And to us.
"If this technology works, more power to them. And to us."
That's the whole point!
Seriously though, space based solar power is definitely the future, unless of course there is a breakthrough in fusion power. There's nothing in the way (atmosphere, clouds .. 100% full power, all the time), you're not using up land, and it's 24 hours. It may not be viable for a while, though, since launch costs are still too high (space elevator?).
Solar panels in space don't get dirty, don't have to support themselves against gravity (so they're way lighter), don't have to pay for the land they sit on. Sure, it's expensive getting them up, and there's engineering challenges to be solves. It's all doable, though, IMO.
It's a question of when, not if. Within 10 years seems a little optimistic. But if there's no fusion breakthrough, if nuclear remains unpopular, and if the climate change thing really starts to get serious (no more coal power), it's definitely a viable option.
For one, solar power may be easier to harness in outer space. But there's a problem: it's in outer space. There is no reason why we should be resorting to such measures when we have the potential to harness solar energy here on the earth's surface.
There are energy demands that must be met, and it is true that our needs will grow exponentially. However, more earthlings than ever (percentage-wise) have a sufficient source of energy, and I believe this number will continue to climb.
This is not to say that this company's efforts are a waste of time. Far from it. We need overambitious entrepreneurs to at least attempt these solutions so that we can better gauge the difficulty of the problem at hand. While this technology may not be realistically implementable, it very may well lead to a newer, more efficient way of harnessing solar energy. If this technology works, more power to them. And to us.