Reflect Orbital's Novel Plan to Power Solar Farms At Night with Space Mirrors

Reflect Orbital's Innovative Solution for Solar Power

A California-based start-up, Reflect Orbital, has developed a novel solution to tackle one of the major challenges in solar power generation – its unavailability at night. The company's space-age tech concept involves the use of space mirrors attached to satellites to beam sunlight to Earth, maintaining the functionality of solar farms even after sunset.

Pioneering Satellite-based Sunlight Mirrors

Discussed at a recent space energy conference in London, the plan aims to launch a constellation of 57 small satellites. Each of these satellites is equipped with a large 33- x 33-foot mirrored sail made of insulating plastic known as mylar. Positioned approximately 370 miles above the Earth, these satellites could potentially provide round-the-clock power to solar farms by reflecting and focusing sunlight beams upon them.

Dealing with Solar Power's Intermittency

While the efficiency and cost of solar panels have substantially improved due to technological innovations, persisting issues like intermittent power generation remain. Solar energy only produces about 25% of its rated capacity over a year in the US. Therefore, developing solutions to make solar power a reliable, round-the-clock energy source is essential. By extending daylight for solar power plants by an additional 30 minutes, Reflect Orbital's satellite mirrors can significantly reduce strain during peak demand times.

Satellite Light Pollution Concerns

The revolutionary idea of using orbiting mirrors to extend sunlight hours for solar farms has been met with some skepticism due to potential satellite light pollution issues. However, the company is all set to put these concerns to the test by planning to launch a prototype of these sun-beaming satellites as early as 2025.