Scientists working for the Pentagon have developed and successfully tested a 12×12 solar panel that would send electricity from space back to any point on Earth.
The panel, known as the Photovoltaic Radiofrequency Antenna Module (PRAM), loops Earth every 90 minutes and converts energy from the sun into electricity. Paul Jaffe, a co-developer of the project, revealed that the panel can currently produce about 10 watts of energy for transmission, which can power a tablet. Jaffe added that there have been visions about space solar matching or exceeding the largest power plants today, which would be enough to provide power for a city. Scientists are still working out how to send the energy back to Earth, and to the right target, using a technique called “retro-directive beam control.” The microwave beams would only be transmitted once the pilot signal was received and a receiver was waiting and ready at the target area.
PRAM co-leader Chris DePuma spoke about how the solar panel would help during natural disasters like the one still affecting people in Texas. He stated, “My family lives in Texas and they’re all living without power right now in the middle of a cold front because the grid is overloaded. So if you had a system like this, you could redirect some power over there, and then my grandma would have heat in her house again.”