The project will entail deploying a series of small satellites into orbit, which will then attempt to transmit the collected solar energy to ground-based receiving stations situated hundreds of miles away. This significant undertaking aims to bring to fruition the concept first proposed in 1968: the utilization of orbital solar panels and microwave technology to transfer energy to Earth.
Although several countries, including China and the United States, have invested considerable time and resources into exploring this concept, Japan’s initiative holds great promise. Orbital solar arrays offer the advantage of an essentially unlimited supply of renewable energy. In space, solar panels can harvest energy irrespective of the time of day, while the use of microwaves to transmit power eliminates concerns associated with cloud cover.
