Equipment tested in space for space-based solar power

[bananas]

This story is on a lot of news sites, the Daily Mail seems to be the one that had the story first.
I'm not exactly sure what was tested, but it apparently was successful, and they're continuing on with the next step.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2145149/Solar-satellites-offer-hope-green-energy-actually-WORK.html

'Beams' from space that could power cities: First tests on solar satellites offer hope of green energy that might actually WORK

- Floating solar panels 'beam' energy to Earth using lasers or microwaves
- Equipment tested in space to deploy 'swarm' of solar panels
- Initially will supply power to disaster areas or outlying regions
- Eventually 'swarm' of tiny satellites could power cities

By Rob Waugh

PUBLISHED: 04:01 EST, 16 May 2012 | UPDATED: 04:23 EST, 16 May 2012

<snip>

Researchers at Stratchclyde University have already tested equipment in space, a first step for solar panels to collect energy and transfer it back to earth through microwaves or lasers.

<snip>

Last month, a team of science and engineering students at Strathclyde developed an innovative ‘space web’ experiment which was carried on a rocket from the Arctic Circle to the edge of space.

The experiment, known as Suaineadh – or ‘twisting’ in Scots Gaelic, was an important step forward in space construction design and demonstrated that larger structures could be built on top of a light-weight spinning web, paving the way for the next stage in the solar power project.

Dr Vasile added: ‘The success of Suaineadh allows us to move forward with the next stage of our project which involves looking at the reflectors needed to collect the solar power.

‘The current project, called SAM (Self-inflating Adaptable Membrane) will test the deployment of an ultra light cellular structure that can change shape once deployed. The structure is made of cells that are self-inflating in vacuum and can change their volume independently through nanopumps.

<snip>

BBC has a 5 minute news video which goes into more detail:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18080883

16 May 2012 Last updated at 02:54 ET
Sticking solar power station where the Sun shines
By Kenneth Macdonald
BBC Scotland Special Correspondent

<snip>

It was designed to test an idea from Japan: a lightweight, spinning net which could form the foundation for a solar satellite.

Its four cameras sent back just over two minutes of intriguing images. The final two frames show tantalising hints that the space net did deploy.

But then the parachute didn't open. One of our space shots is missing.

The experiment fell into deep snow in the far north of Sweden - and the possibility of a soft landing has the Strathclyde team hoping even more data can be recovered.

That's why Thomas Sinn and colleagues will be setting off in August on a recovery mission. And as funding for that sort of thing is tight they're attempting to crowdsource it on the Web.

<snip>

[technotwit]

1. They already have it planned for my backyard

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30198977/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/pge-makes-deal-space-solar-power/

4/13/2009 10:41:47 PM ET

California's biggest energy utility announced a deal Monday to purchase 200 megawatts of electricity from a startup company that plans to beam the power down to Earth from outer space, beginning in 2016.

San Francisco-based Pacific Gas & Electric said it was seeking approval from state regulators for an agreement to purchase power over a 15-year period from Solaren Corp., an 8-year-old company based in Manhattan Beach, Calif. The agreement was first reported in a posting to Next100, a Weblog produced by PG&E.

Solaren would generate the power using solar panels in Earth orbit and convert it to radio-frequency transmissions that would be beamed down to a receiving station in Fresno, PG&E said. From there, the energy would be converted into electricity and fed into PG&E's power grid.

PG&E is pledging to buy the power at an agreed-upon rate, comparable to the rate specified in other agreements for renewable-energy purchases, company spokesman Jonathan Marshall said. Neither PG&E nor Solaren would say what that rate was, due to the proprietary nature of the agreement. However, Marshall emphasized that PG&E would make no up-front investment in Solaren's venture.

[johnd83]

2. I think this is the most plausible form of renewable energy, but...

we need to make absolutely sure it isn't ionizing the atmosphere. That would be bad. That being said, solar energy is much stronger outside the atmosphere and collecting it is potentially a lot more efficient.

[DetlefK]

4. Difficult to get it down to earth.

The water vapor in the air absorbs microwaves. So far, nobody knows how much energy would be lost during transmission. Nobody knows whether the absorbed heat would create local weather phenomena (e.g. clouds).

And what happens, when that Death Star hits something other than the intended receiver?

[caraher]

6. Misdirected beams are a simple technical problem

You can easily monitor the beam position and cut off transmission if for any reason the pointing is bad. I'd be more concerned about things like birds flying across the beam or wildlife in the receiver area.

[caraher]

5. Microwaves are non-ionizing

The photons individually have very little energy - far to little to ionize atoms and molecules.

The main known biologically-relevant effect of microwaves is heating.

Apart from clouds, the atmosphere actually doesn't absorb very much incoming solar radiation at the relevant wavelengths. The chief benefits to collecting the energy in orbit are essentially 24-hour availability and being above clouds (thought transmission of microwaves through clouds may not be very efficient).

[JDPriestly]

3. Intriguing! Hope it works!