China Announces Ambitious Plan for Space Solar Power Stations

China has unveiled a bold initiative to construct large-scale solar power stations in space, spearheaded by renowned rocket scientist Long Lehao. This project aims to create solar arrays that would be positioned in geostationary orbit, providing continuous energy collection without the interruptions caused by weather or day-night cycles.

Long, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, compared the significance of this endeavor to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, which is the largest hydropower project globally. He revealed that the solar installation will span 1 kilometer wide and is projected to generate energy equivalent to all the oil reserves extracted from Earth in a year.

To facilitate this monumental task, China is developing its Long March-9 heavy-lift rocket, which will potentially exceed the payload capacity of current leading rockets, like NASA's Saturn V. While other nations, such as the United States and Japan, are also exploring similar solar power technologies, China's plans are noted for their scale and ambition.

This space-based solar power initiative could revolutionize energy generation, though it may take years to reach operational status. Technologies developed for this project could lead to significant advancements in energy production and distribution, marking a major advancement in the quest for sustainable energy sources.