Intensify Space Solar Power Technology Initiatives Sought from China
China is making a strategic push in the development of space solar power (SBSP), aiming to compete strongly in the new energy sector and the space race. The country plans to build massive solar power stations in orbit using launches from its forthcoming Long March-9 rocket, targeting operational capability by around 2030 [1][2].
Key points on China’s efforts and progress include:
Scale and Ambition
China envisions a "Manhattan-sized" solar city in space to harvest continuous solar energy, surpassing existing large-scale energy infrastructures. This reflects an intent to construct very large orbital solar arrays through multiple heavy-lift launches by the Long March-9 rocket, which can deliver 150 tons per launch with about a dozen launches planned for initial deployment [2].
Technology and Challenges
China has emphasized the advantages of space solar power, such as uninterrupted energy supply unaffected by weather or night, and stronger solar intensity in orbit. However, it currently lags behind the U.S., which has experimented with energy transmission from space since the 1970s [1]. Chinese scientists urge a top-down national strategy to catch up, particularly in critical technology areas like materials science and precision control.
There are technical hurdles with microwave energy transmission through Earth’s atmosphere, such as absorption by moisture and safety concerns regarding impact on humans and wildlife. Overcoming these challenges will require advances in orbital mechanics and autonomous robotics [1][2].
Research and Institutional Support
Presently, China’s research is mainly conducted at universities and research institutions that reportedly lack the capacity for the massive systems engineering required, highlighting the need for a coordinated, large-scale national program [1].
Global Context and Impending Commercialization
China’s program is part of an international wave of renewed interest in SBSP, with parallel efforts from the U.S., Japan, Europe, India, and Russia. The broader SBSP field is approaching milestones enabling near-term deployment, helped by reduced launch costs and improved technologies. Projects in other countries aim for testing and demonstration missions possibly occurring as early as the mid-2020s [3][4].
Potential Impact
Studies, including those analyzing NASA’s SBSP designs, indicate space-based solar power could strongly complement or even outperform terrestrial renewables like wind and ground solar by 2050 in some models. This supports China’s motivation to make a strategic push in this energy technology to secure a competitive edge in global clean energy and space sectors [3][5].
In summary, China is making significant, ambitious moves toward establishing space-based solar power infrastructure on a large scale with plans for operational deployment around 2030. However, to truly compete with leading nations like the U.S., China needs accelerated, top-down coordination to overcome technological and systemic challenges while leveraging heavy-lift launch capabilities. This initiative positions China as a major contender in the emerging global space-based renewable energy race [1][2][3].
It's worth noting that space solar power facilities convert solar energy directly into electricity, making them a promising solution for continuous power generation. However, compared with the United States, China was relatively late in developing space solar power, with the U.S. conducting solar energy transmission experiments as early as the 1970s.
- Recognizing the advantages of continuous, weather-independent, and stronger solar intensity in space, China aims to bridge the gap with the U.S. in space solar power (SBSP) technology by adopting a top-down national strategy, emphasizing on critical areas like materials science and precision control.
- In the race for strategic dominance in the space-and-astronomy sector, China plans to leverage its Long March-9 rocket for heavy-lift launches, targeting the construction of massive space solar power stations that could potentially outperform terrestrial renewables like wind and ground solar by 2050, as suggested by studies on NASA’s SBSP designs.
