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Iceland could become the first country in the world to get photovoltaic energy

2024-11-10 09:55:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

By 2030, Iceland could be the first country in the world to receive photovoltaic energy directly from space. A pioneering project, born out of collaboration between British Space Solar and local companies Reykjavik Energy and Transition Labs, aims to push the limits of traditional technology.

In detail, the system will collect sunlight through panels installed on orbiting satellites, converting the energy into high-frequency radio waves, which will then be transmitted to Earth stations, which will transform those in clean electricity.

With an initial capacity of 30 megawatts, the system will be operational 24 hours a day, ensuring continuous supply.

We are talking about a revolutionary technology, instead of depending on the presence of the sun in the sky, as is the case today for terrestrial panels, it will capture the energy directly in space, where there are no obstacles such as clouds or the darkness of night. This would enable continuous availability of electricity, at competitive costs compared to terrestrial renewable sources.

The Icelandic company Reykjavik Energy saw an opportunity in the project to contribute to its country's net zero (zero emissions) goals, this collaboration with the British company could represent a paradigm shift for the entire renewables sector, even beyond the island of glaciers and volcanoes.

To handle the growing global demand for renewable energy, in addition to Iceland, other receiving stations in Canada and northern Japan are being evaluated.

The first satellite will represent one of the most impressive objects in orbit since the space stations, and while the path presents complex engineering challenges, the advancement of modular technology being explored is promising.

The extent of the benefits associated with this work is revealed in studies by Imperial College London, which estimates that 8 GB of solar energy from space could reduce annual costs in the sector for the whole of the UK by around £4 billion, for a sustainable future. The launch of the first factory is just the beginning. In fact, it plans to expand capacity by 30 megawatts to surpass the gigawatt threshold by 2036, a potential revolution in the supply of renewable energy to the entire planet.

Cooperation with companies from different countries marks an important step towards this vision, providing Iceland with a constant and sustainable energy source./ CNA