Japan is literally reaching for the stars with an ambitious new mission called Project OHISAMA. Spearheaded by Japan Space Systems (JSPACE), the project aims to wirelessly transmit solar power from space back to Earth. The possibilities for clean energy are endless, so read on to find out more.
Project OHISAMA: Japan’s Bold Plan to Harvest Solar Energy from Space
If successful, Project OHISAMA could revolutionize how we harness renewable energy by enabling solar power even at night, slashing dependence on fossil fuels, and marking a major milestone in sustainable space technology. The future of clean energy might just be orbiting above us. Work on this project has been ongoing since 2023, but it has recently made big strides in achieving the goal.
The Japanese government has also funded the research behind this. It aims to launch a small solar installation in space on the satellite would then transmit the energy down to Earth wirelessly. The idea of beaming down solar energy from space sounds like something from a Sci-Fi story. However, it will surpass many of the hurdles faced by conventional solar harvesting, like the weather and the general climate of a region.
At the moment, a trial run is planned in the future with a satellite that weighs around 180 kilograms. It will orbit the Earth from an altitude of 400 kilometres with solar panels measuring around 2 square meters. The harvested energy will then be transmitted as a GHz range electromagnetic wave that will be picked up by a ground station in Suwa, Japan. The accuracy is proving to be a bigger issue than the risks of harm. Energy being beamed down needs to hit a 40 kilometer wide receiver field at 28,000km/h. This could power many households despite only having a radiation density of the usual sunlight.
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