(21 January 2025 – China) China is planning to commence construction of an enormous solar farm in space enabling continuous harvesting of energy from the sun on an unprecedentedly massive scale.
With a scope described as creating a “Three Gorges Dam project above the Earth”, the solar farm will stretch one kilometre in width and continuously harness renewable energy.
Launched into space using a reusable heavy-lift rocket, named the Long March-9, it will be positioned in geostationary orbit (remaining at the same point above the Earth’s surface) and generate as much energy in a year as the total quantity of oil that can be extracted from the Earth.
The energy is planned to be transmitted to ground using microwaves. The plan is described internationally as the “Manhattan Project” of the energy sector.
“We are working on this project now after work started on the space solar power station in Chongqing in 2019. It is as significant as moving the Three Gorges Dam to a geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometres above the Earth. This is an incredible project to look forward to” commented Chinese Aerospace Engineer, Long Lehao.