{"id":42978,"date":"2024-02-05T10:05:18","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T10:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=42978"},"modified":"2024-02-05T10:05:18","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T10:05:18","slug":"space-reflectors-to-boost-output-of-large-scale-solar-farms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/space-reflectors-to-boost-output-of-large-scale-solar-farms\/42978\/","title":{"rendered":"Space reflectors to boost output of large-scale solar farms"},"content":{"rendered":"
University of Glasgow researchers have shown that kilometre-wide orbiting space reflectors could boost the output of future large-scale solar farms by reflecting additional sunlight toward them after the Sun has set.<\/p>\n
The space engineers used computer simulations to help determine the most effective method of using orbiting solar reflectors to generate additional power.<\/p>\n
The paper is published as a preprint in the journal Acta Astronautica<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n The computer simulations showed that 20 gossamer-thin reflectors being put into orbit 1,000 kilometres from Earth\u2019s surface could reflect sunlight to solar farms for an extra two hours each day on average.<\/p>\n The sunlight can potentially boost the output of solar farms, especially after sunset when electricity demand is high. The output could be scaled up by adding more space reflectors or increasing their size.<\/p>\n The space reflectors would maintain an orbit close to the Earth\u2019s terminator line. This is the boundary where daylight on one side of the planet transitions into night on the other side.<\/p>\n The reflectors should sit in an arrangement known as a Walker constellation. These constellations are used in technologies such as satellite communication systems. Here, groups of equally-spaced satellites<\/a> form rings around the planet to ensure consistent communication with the Earth\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n An algorithm was used to understand how the reflectors could be arranged in the constellation and angled to catch the Sun\u2019s rays most effectively. The arrangement should maximise the additional sunlight reflected to solar power farms around the Earth in the early morning and late evening.<\/p>\nReflecting additional sunlight<\/h3>\n
Walker constellation<\/h3>\n
Effectiveness of space reflectors<\/h3>\n