Japan is building a system to beam wireless electricity from space directly to Earth:
By Global Science JournalJapan is building a system to beam wireless electricity from space directly to Earth: Japan is pioneering Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) via the OHISAMA project. By deploying satellites to orbit 400 km above Earth, the system captures unfiltered solar energy and beams it continuously as microwaves to a ground receiver in Suwa. This bypasses weather and nighttime disruptions, aiming for a 1-gigawatt commercial plant by the 2030s.How the System Works:Orbital Collection: A 180 kg (400 lbs) satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) continuously captures solar energy using photovoltaic panels.Microwave Conversion: The onboard systems convert the collected solar energy into safe, highly focused microwave beams.Earth Reception: The beam is directed toward a 600-square-meter ground station (a rectenna) located in Suwa, Japan, which converts the microwaves back into usable electricity.Key Benefits:24/7 Power: Unlike terrestrial solar farms, orbiting satellites can harvest sunlight uninterrupted by nightfall, clouds, or seasonal shifts.Clean & Unlimited: Once scaled up, a single stadium-sized orbital satellite could theoretically provide enough continuous energy to power 300,000 homes
