Is Space the Answer to Green Energy?

With the world all-too conscious of its dwindling supplies of fossil fuels and of the continued havoc that the combustion of such fuels is wreaking on our fragile environment, the search for green energy is a key focus worldwide.

However, most green energy sources are not ideal. Renewable energies such as wind and solar power are both inconsistent and expensive to set up. And while wave power has awesome potential, it can disrupt natural habitats and environments and prove to be even more costly than the other two methods.

Meanwhile, nuclear power comes with a whole host of concerns. Its obvious links to nuclear weapons, the difficulty of disposing of waste and the danger of another disaster like Fukushima in 2011. Indeed, decontamination work in Japan is a slow process and one which has deterred many from nuclear power as a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Is the answer in the stars?

As scientists try to find more innovative and unique ways to solve the energy problem, some have started to look to space for the answers. One such potential solution is the harvesting of helium-3, an element found in abundance on the moon. In fact, the moon is estimated to contain over one million tonnes of the stuff.

Helium-3 is important because of its safe and inoffensive nature. Scientists are investigating the possibilities of using the element in the process of nuclear fusion. Fusion differs from nuclear fission in that instead of splitting nuclei, it combines them to produce energy. Until now, fusion has only been performed with deuterium and tritium, both of which produce their energy in the form of radioactive neutrons, which is unpredictable, unstable and unsafe. Helium-3 does not carry any of those concerns.

However, helium-3 as a solution is a long way off becoming practicable. Firstly, there is the conundrum of how to bring the element back to Earth. Secondly, and more importantly, nuclear fusion is still a work in progress. At this time, experiments on Earth have yet to yield a result where the energy produced outweighs that which was required to begin the reaction. However, earlier this year, scientists at National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California believed they have moved closer to the solution, which you can read more about in the story: Promise of Clean Energy One Step Closer with Nuclear Fusion Milestone.

Staring at the Sun

Perhaps a more realistic option would be one which we are already pursuing on planet Earth – solar power.

Unobstructed by rain, clouds or the revolving of the Earth, the solar power in space would be approximately eight times stronger than that which we are able to harvest here. Furthermore, solar panels floating in space wouldn’t be subject to the same fluctuations of climate and season that we experience on Earth.

Space solar power (SSP) would function by placing solar panels into orbit around the Earth (or on the moon, in which case it would be lunar solar power, LSP) and then beaming the energy back to Earth in the form of microwaves. These microwaves would then be picked up by rectifying antennas, also known as rectennas, which would convert the energy back into electricity, ready to use. The whole system would function in much the same way as mobile phone signals currently do. And the most appealing part of the whole notion is that we have already mastered all of the technology involved.

So what is the stumbling block?

The same one as always – financing the operation. According to Professor Hoffert at New York University, launching an object into space costs 1,000 times more than sending it the equivalent distance across the globe, despite the same amount of energy being used.

But if the money can be found, the transportation units obtained and the panels sent into space, the final frontier could be the solution to our energy woes.