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California Startup Comes Up with a New Way to Generate Power with Sunlight at Night

Catwell

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Reflect Orbital tested its concept by fitting mylar mirrors on a hot air balloon that reflected sunlight on a moving truck. (Image Credit: Reflect Orbital)

Fly by night, conceptual, viral, whatever the case may be, this idea is inspiring. It's something that might not have popped into mind could even be possible. That is what we engineers do, alot. Form ideas. Seeing them through is another miracle. 

Reflect Orbital proposed a new, profitable way to boost power generation: selling sunlight after darkness falls. This innovative technique would use satellites to reflect sunlight to the Earth’s surface, potentially lighting up the night sky. Ben Nowack, Reflect Orbital CEO, unveiled this concept at the International Conference on Energy from Space in April. 

Nowack’s idea is based on launching 57 earth-orbiting satellites equipped with 33 sq ft. ultra-reflective mylar mirrors that reflect sunlight onto ground-based solar farms. This means Reflect Orbital could sell sunlight to solar power plants, giving them an extra 30 minutes during peak times. That energy would then be sent to customer’s homes.

The team tested this idea by placing an 8x8 foot mylar mirror on a hot air balloon that reflected sunlight on solar panels attached to a moving truck. It took them a few weeks of fine-tuning before achieving a breakthrough. The mirror reflected light from 242 meters away onto the solar panels that produced 500W of power/square meters of panel. One team member also moved the panels away from direct sunlight, verifying the achievement. Reflect Orbital projections say that energy generation significantly decreased after the panels were moved.

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(Image Credit: Reflect Orbital)

Although solar power generation is more affordable, it still has some inconsistencies, making widespread adoption challenging as a renewable source. 

Sunlight can also be blocked by thick clouds and stormy weather, affecting solar power generation. Seasonal changes also indicate how much sunlight covers certain regions. Even though the equator receives more sunlight year-round, the north and south hemispheres see a drastic decrease in daytime hours during winter — caused by Earth’s 23.5-degree axial tilt.  

The startup hopes its mirror-equipped satellites can overcome those obstacles by beaming sunlight anywhere on Earth. Russia tested something similar during the late 1980s and early 1990s via the Znamya project. It involved building a satellite fitted with mylar mirrors to reflect sunlight effectively. However, Russian scientists couldn’t replicate that success after the Soviet Union’s fall due to the high cost of launching satellites into orbit at the time. 

Reflect Orbital’s next move involves launching a prototype satellite in 2025 now that its mirrors can boost solar plant’s efficiency. 

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Parents

  • in reply to Jan Cumps

    A part that's not covered in the debunk video: how much energy do we spend, just to launch one mirror?

    I asked chatGPT how much energy is needed to launch 1 mirror. 

    • RO says it is a 12U launch size (used to see how much of the total energy is used for that 1 mirror)
    • using current vehicle for space-x: a falcon 9

    Result:

    Final Estimate

    • Energy Spent: Approximately 1,223 kWh is required to launch a 12U CubeSat.

    Context

    • Household Comparison: 1,223 kWh is roughly equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of an average U.S. household.

    Questions asked:

    1. how much energy does space-x use to launch a satellite?
    2. how much is spent per 12-unit size satellite?

    To estimate the energy spent on launching a 12-unit (12U) CubeSat-sized satellite using a SpaceX rocket, we need to consider the specifics of CubeSat launches and the energy distribution per unit of payload.

    Step 1: Understanding a 12U CubeSat

    • CubeSat Size: A 12U CubeSat is a small satellite with a standard size of 12 units, each unit being 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. The total volume is approximately 20 cm x 20 cm x 30 cm.
    • Weight: A typical 12U CubeSat weighs between 12 to 24 kg.

    Step 2: Energy per Launch and Payload Mass

    As calculated earlier, a Falcon 9 launch uses about 5.58 terajoules (TJ) of energy.

    • Payload Capacity: The Falcon 9 rocket can carry up to approximately 22,800 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO).

    Step 3: Energy Per Kilogram

    To find the energy used per kilogram of payload:

    image

    Step 4: Energy for a 12U CubeSat

    Now, calculate the energy required for a 12U CubeSat, assuming an average weight of 18 kg:

    image

    To convert gigajoules to kilowatt-hours (kWh):

    image

    Final Estimate

    • Energy Spent: Approximately 1,223 kWh is required to launch a 12U CubeSat.

    Context

    • Household Comparison: 1,223 kWh is roughly equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of an average U.S. household.

    This estimate is based on a proportional distribution of energy usage across the payload mass. Actual energy use may vary depending on specific launch conditions and the precise orbit targeted.

    If we also calculate the energy burned to produce the mylar for the mirror, for the production of the satellite, ...

  • in reply to Jan Cumps

    "...I asked chatGPT how much energy is needed to launch 1 mirror..."

    Perhaps more enlightening to ask how much they could stand to make without a single launch ?

  • in reply to beacon_dave

    I stored the conversation and can ask follow-up questions. What do you mean with "without a single launch"?

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