Can we collect solar power in orbit and beam it down to the ground for use?

 There are just a couple of problems with solar energy the first is that you can only generate it during the daytime and much of the solar energy is lost in the atmosphere. The European Space Agency ESA is working on a concept of collecting the solar power in orbit where the sun is 11 times more intense then in Europe and then trying to beam this energy down to the ground for use. This would involve building satellites that can collect the solar energy but it also involves this idea of beaming power down to the ground. This beam needs to be very accurate very reliable and retain as much of the power as possible. Then the energy could be converted into electricity. So this idea is good in theory but in practise we need to find and efficient way of beaming the power down and safely capturing and converting it.



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