Harnessing solar power from space

It’s hard to wrap your head around, but a joint venture between British and Icelandic companies is developing a space-based solar power plant that they hope can deliver enough electricity to power up to 3,000 homes back on Earth. The project will use satellites to collect sunlight in space through solar panels and then transmit it as radio waves to a ground station, where it will be converted into electricity for the grid. Host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Cal Tech’s Ali Hajimiri, Bren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering and co-Director of CalTech’s Space-Based Solar Power Project.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!