Power from nowhere: Europe’s bold solar plan doesn’t need land or daylight

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

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Sky harvest

New research says satellites could beam down enough solar energy to power most of Europe—by 2050.

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Orbital revolution

A single NASA-designed satellite system could cut Europe’s land-based solar needs by 80%.

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Space savings

By ditching most ground-based renewables, SBSP could save Europe nearly €36 billion annually.

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No clouds, no night

Unlike Earth-based solar, these satellites collect energy 24/7—no clouds, no darkness, no downtime.

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Grid upgrade

Space solar could slash Europe’s need for battery storage by 66%, solving one of clean energy’s biggest headaches.

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From NASA, with sun

At the heart of it all: NASA’s RD1 satellite, using mirrors to capture and beam solar power from orbit.

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ESA’s golden shot

With shared energy grids and space cooperation, Europe is uniquely positioned to lead the SBSP race.

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Climate clock

If launched in time, space solar could be the key to hitting Europe’s 2050 net-zero target—without more land use.

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Sky high hurdles

Satellites, debris, signal loss—SBSP isn’t risk-free, but researchers say space tech could catch up by 2050.

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