One step forward to Free Energy...

- and how bout sending one to Mars instead of using giant mirrors?

two reasons
1 They have been talking about those solar power stations in orbit fro over a quarter century the reason we dont have them is it is always been to expensive to build until recently
2 sending it to mars would both add to the cost and complicate the transmissions of the microwave beams

Technically, an energy beaming satellite could be classified as a space based weapon and redeployed to do something other than provide energy to a countries power grid. I imagine that other countries would not be too keen on the idea of a country having this device floating around in space.

Clever idea but I think that instead of sending solar panels into outer space we should make huge floating solar panel blankets and float them on the surface of the ocean. This does double-duty because the solar panels will create a large amount of electricity and since the ocean absorbs most of the light that hits it (thus contributing to global warming), the solar panels reduce the amount of heat that is absorbed.

This tornado generator will be worse than wind turbines. They are only tens of meters tall, generate much noise and people say they are looking ugly. What would they tell about miles-high 24/7 tornado?

hmm, although that whole microwave weapon in space could be a problem, im sure there is also an added benefit: perhapse a single satelite could beam it to multiple stations. putting energy into the grid where its needed could save at least 10%

Floating solar panels on the ocean would block sunlight from the ocean ecosystem and have a catastrophic effect there.

Space Solar Panels would be a great addition, and as long as we have a way to track and destroy it if it becomes a threat, we should give it the benefit of the doubt.

i agree with Phi523 puting solar panels over the ocean are a bad idea no only would it effect the eco-ostem but the ocean is also a CO2 dump and putting solar panels over it would effect its ability to absorb it. also what would happen when a storm hit the panels??? space is ideal because it is a very stable environment comapred to the earths surface... good idea but the cons would outweight the pro's.

BobWebster

Anyone who seriously believes Earth could be destroyed by humans has a lot to learn. Humans may make things unpleasant for humans and other species of plants and animals, but that is a long way from "destroying" the planet.

An ice age will do more to destroy all the critters, including humans, that we try to protect from evolutionary changes. Species dying out is a normal evolutionary process.

Humans have far too much hubris.

Better we tried to educate humans in the earth science fields (geology, meteorology, climatology, etc.) so they actually understood what is really going on around them and how tenuous life is (think: astroid impact, solar eruptions, etc.) from things humans have absolutely no control over.

Then there is the emotional notion that humans have the capacity to make significant changes to any aspect of earth and its creatures (both plant and animal). The operative word is "significant" (for those whose language skills are as challenged as their scientific skills).

Too much emotion. Too little reason.

When I drew a solar electric satellite system back in 1967 I thought of using a relay of satellites from Mercury's orbit to earth orbit to produce even more electricity to be transmitted to earth.