Space Solar: Future New Energy?

What is the contribution of nuclear power to carbon emission reduction? Is nuclear power a clean energy source for the economy? “Nuclear power plants require huge investment and operating costs, and the public is currently concerned about the investment costs of nuclear power plants. The huge investment in nuclear waste processing costs and closed reactor costs is not within the public eye.” This is the senior vice president of European Space Energy Group. Dr. Xu Feng, an expert from the US Nuclear Safety and Former Space Agency, questioned the economics of nuclear power at the China Energy Environment Summit held by the University of International Business and Economics at the High-tech Energy, Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Summit partners and media round table.

Regarding the contribution of nuclear power as a clean energy source to carbon emission reduction, Xu Feng thinks that it is very limited: “To replace the current carbon emissions from energy consumption in the United States, the United States needs to build more than 400 nuclear reactors, and it costs 1.2 trillion to 2 trillion yuan. From a global perspective, it will require the construction of more than 8,000 reactors, which will cost at least US$24 trillion and will take more than 30 years.”

After Japan suffered a nuclear disaster caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Prime Minister Naoto Kan recently publicly stated that he would adjust the nuclear energy-focused national energy plan and long-term development strategy that Japan had previously set. Before the nuclear disaster, Japan turned its attention to solar energy, wind energy and other clean energy fields. According to reports, the Japan Aerospace Administration (JAXA) has launched a space solar energy utilization system plan in early 2010. This system can generate at least 1 billion watts of electricity, enough to power 300,000 homes in Tokyo and it will cost 2 trillion yen (about 21 billion US dollars).

"Space Solar" technology is still relatively unfamiliar to many people in China, but it has already achieved certain development in the United States, Japan, and Russia. Li Ming, a deputy dean of the China Academy of Space Technology, told this reporter that at present, China’s space technology is only used to provide information services, and “space solar energy” technology can use space technology to provide energy services for humanity. The solar photovoltaic equipment is sent to a space orbit through a rocket, etc., and it receives solar energy in the orbit, converts the energy into microwaves or lasers, and then transmits it to a ground receiving terminal through a wireless manner, and the terminal outputs the power to the power grid in the future. The field of this technology will have great room for development. At present, Sichuan University, China Academy of Space Technology and other universities and institutions have made some progress in wireless transmission.

“The wireless transmission capacity of space solar energy will play a huge role in the emergency supply of electricity when the grid collapses. At present, China’s space solar power station technology has not yet been included in the development plan of the relevant departments.” Li Ming said, “Space solar energy can take microwaves. Or laser two types of technology. At present Europe and the United States mainly rely on microwave technology research and development, and Japan is also developing laser technology." Li Ming believes that the development of space solar power station technology not only provides an effective way for the development of clean energy, but also It may trigger a new technological revolution, especially the advancement of the human low-space economy led by aerospace technology and industry.

Dr. Xu Feng is also an active guide for space solar technology. Before that, he was the person in charge of NASA's risk management project and he made a key contribution to the 2007 US Department of Defense Space Defense Agency's research and evaluation of space solar projects. He conducted a scientific comparison of space solar energy and nuclear energy through quantitative and qualitative methods.

“Comprehensive and systematic assessment of sustainability, hazards to the environment, safety, economics, technical difficulty, commercial operational effectiveness, potential risks of misuse, and benefits to human long-term development. It is even better.” Xu Feng further emphasized the hidden dangers of nuclear power. Each major nuclear disaster is likely to be caused by different problems and unforeseen intricacies, and the uncontrollability of nuclear energy and nuclear accidents. The devastating devastation has also further increased the complexity and risks of the use of nuclear energy.

Dr. He Xueyan from the China Development Strategy Research Association also agreed with Xu Feng. "The development of nuclear power should be re-adjusted. From key development of nuclear energy to wind energy, then to tidal energy, and finally to space solar energy, it should be the order and direction of China's key research priorities for clean energy," said He Xueyan.

At the end of the meeting, Prof. Lin Zhiqin, Secretary-General of the China Energy Environment Summit Forum, introduced the plan for the “China Energy Environment Summit Forum on High-tech Energy and Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection” to be held in August this year. “Space Solar Energy Technology” will be an important part of this summit. issue.

The summit also plans to invite the first human being to climb the moon—Baz Orr, an academician of the China Academy of Space Technology, and academician Gui Guirong. The academician of the “Two Bombs and One Star” is Wang Xiji, the Chinese National Department of Energy, Environment, Technology, and National Defense. Ministry of Industry and other relevant ministries, University of International Business and Economics, China Academy of Space Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University, International Clean Energy Association, National Science Foundation of the United States, National Research Center of the US Department of Energy, New York University, European Space Energy Top experts and scholars at home and abroad, such as the Group and the NASA Outstanding Scientific and Technological Achievement Award Honoree, discussed high-tech energy and energy conservation and environmental protection in China.