Producing solar power on demand is precisely what a US startup, Reflect Orbital, aims to achieve. They intend to utilize mirrors in orbit to redirect excess sunlight back to Earth.
The goal isn’t to make the entire planet sunnier; rather, it’s to extend the hours during which solar power plants can generate electricity each day.
The initial plan involves launching two satellites in 2026 to serve as a proof of concept. These satellites will be equipped with deployable mirrors measuring 18 m x 18 m (59 x 59 ft) and will orbit at a low Earth altitude of about 600 km (373 miles).
Each satellite can illuminate a 6 km (3.73 mile) diameter patch of the Earth’s surface, almost as bright as a full moon.
This illumination level may not be sufficient for solar power generation, but the plan is to deploy numerous satellites all oriented in the same direction, stacking their beams to achieve a total of 5,000 by 2030 and over 50,000 by 2035.
Under optimal conditions regarding mirror reflectance and precision, certain areas on the ground could experience brightness approaching that of dusk.
However, this isn’t a constant illumination; the mirrors travel at a speed of 7.5 km/s (4.66 mi/s), meaning they can only light up the same area for a few minutes at a time. This technology is mainly beneficial for solar power plants operating just after sunset or just before dawn, as dusk does not provide sufficient brightness.
In contrast, areas receiving adequate natural light will not require enhancement since the satellites may also be in darkness.
This indicates that the economics of this venture might be less viable compared to simply expanding solar power capacity and storage on the ground.
This article addresses the question by Samantha Barker of the University of Oxford: “Can we create sunlight on demand?”
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