china to build solar power stations in space

China develops solar power stations in space

China gears up to develop solar power stations in space that can transfer the sun’s energy in the orbit back to the ground on Earth. It draws from the idea of space-based solar power. The European Space Agency says it’s a concept where satellites in orbit capture solar energy using photovoltaic cells and send it back to earth wirelessly. This energy is converted into microwaves on their way to the planet. On Earth, rectifying antennas catch these microwaves using receiver stations. From there, they convert them into electricity.

It’s the senior rocket scientist Long Lehao, who is also a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), who details China’s plan for the solar power stations in space. During a lecture he gave back in October 2024 at the academy, he said that he and his teams are working on the project at the moment. He likens it to the Three Gorges Dam in Yangtze River, China, dubbed the largest and most powerful hydroelectric project in the world. In this case, the dam is an equivalent of the solar power stations in space, 36,000km or 22,370 miles above the Earth.

ISS solar array with the Earth in the background as seen by the Expedition 36 crew | all image courtesys of NASA/JSC, unless stated otherwise | photo by Dr. Karen Nyberg

1-kilometer-wide solar array along the geostationary orbit

China’s plan is to install a solar array that’s 1 kilometer wide along the 36,000 km geostationary orbit, according to the South China Morning Post report. These solar power stations in space can capture energy from the sun without interference from seasonal changes or day-and-night cycles. Because of this, it’s very likely that the collection and transfer of natural energy from the sun to Earth is consistent and continuous. The report also adds that the energy density is much higher in space. With this in mind, harnessing the natural energy may not be an issue.

These solar power stations in space could capture energy ten times more effectively than photovoltaic panels on Earth, a news story by Global Construction Review notes. Like the Space-Based Solar Power concept, this collected energy is then converted into microwaves. Here on Earth, the receivers take them. Then, they transform them into electricity, so users and households can use them to power up appliances, devices, and more. At the moment, the project is underway. Scientist Long Lehao adds that the country plans to use ‘super-heavy’ rockets to carry the solar power stations to space. As soon as they’re there, the team sets them up for use. 

view of golden solar array with Earth in the background taken by the Expedition 49 crew | photo by Kate Rubins

solar arrays on the ISS on Feb. 12, 2015 | photo by Samantha Cristoforetti, courtesy of ESA/NASA

china gears up to develop solar power stations in space | photo by SpaceX, courtesy of Pexels

the project could capture energy more effectively than photovoltaic panels | photo by Pixabay, courtesy of Pexels

project info:

name: Solar power stations

institution: Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) 

scientist: Long Lehao

photographers: Dr. Karen Nyberg, Kate Rubins, Samantha Cristoforetti | @astrokarenn, @astro_kathleen_rubins, @astro_samantha68

matthew burgos | designboom

feb 12, 2025