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Microwave Power, Reality?
Scientists from Europe and Japan will be meeting to discuss further research in having satellites collect solar energy and beam it to receivers on earth in the form of a laser. *thoughts of James Bond movies come to mind* This way, there are no clouds to block the sun, and no nighttime. However, there is a loss in energy as the energy is converted to a laser beam, then an additional loss as it is converted back to energy on Earth. Furthermore, this form of energy is not cost efficient, so no power companies would be interested in using it. I think it is great that Europe and Japan are interested in this power. They can spend all the money researching it and if anything actually gets developed, we can copy it.
Currently, America is more focused on developing cold fusion and hydrogen power. Cold Fusion still needs some work. Decreasing the cost of muons would help, since they have to be created in particle accelerators. For hydrogen power, if it is ever created, it would go hand in hand with nuclear power. Nuclear reactors create large amounts of hydrogen, but since there is no need for it, it is not collected. Hydrogen is also needed for fuel cells, so there would be an even greater need for nuclear reactors since they are currently the most cost effective way to create hydrogen.
Source: Wired
Belched up with tidings of comfort and joy by Joe
at
3:46:00 PM. |
