broadcast power redux

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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Cecil’s column on broadcast power

I keep seeing references to space-based solar energy collectors that would somehow transmit power back to earth and solve all our energy problems. Did something change such that the idea has become feasible or are yahoos that don’t know what they are talking about start proposing this again?

Thanks,
Rob

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It has always been feasible. However, the initial investment is very large indeed, and there are safety problems.

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The difference is between a directed, and possibly collimated, beam, from one place (solar satellite) to another (earth receiver); and broadcast power, which must by definition suffer from the inverse square law, and almost all of which will not be picked up by its intended recipients.