A team of space engineers from the University of Glasgow has proposed an innovative solution for boosting the production of solar solar energy20 reflectors in Earth orbit at a distance of 1,000 km from the Earth. These reflectors, designed to deflect sunlight onto solar plants on Earth during sunrise and sunset hours, could be key to moving toward a net-zero energy future.
Published in the journal Acta Astronautica, the study reveals how, through the use of advanced computational simulations, the most efficient way to employ these solar reflectors in orbit was determined to maximize additional power generation. The results indicate that placing 20 of these spiderweb-thin reflectors could extend solar exposure on solar farms by an average of 2 additional hours per day, especially after sunset, when electricity demand increases.
How would reflectors work in Earth orbit?
These orbital reflectors would be located near the Earth terminator line, where day turns to night, forming a Walker constellation. This type of configuration, commonly used in satellite communication systems, would allow constant and efficient coverage, ensuring that the solar farms receive additional sunlight at critical times of the day.
The study also suggests that the implementation of these 20 reflectors could generate up to 728 MWh of additional electricity daily, equivalent to the production of a large solar farm without the costs associated with its construction. This proposal not only represents a significant advance in renewable energy technology, but also offers a practical and scalable solution to increase the efficiency of existing and future solar farms.
Onur Çelik, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering and lead author of the study, highlighted the potential of solar energy as a key pillar in the transition to net-zero energy, stressing the importance of innovations such as orbital reflectors to overcome the limitations of daytime-only solar generation.
Professor Colin McInnes, SOLSPACE principal investigator and co-author of the study, remarked that although the idea of orbiting solar reflectors is not new, current technology and computational models allow us to consider their implementation on a much larger scale, opening up new possibilities for the future of global clean energy.
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Video: University of Glasgow
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