Start-up follows a completely new approach

The US start-up Aetherflux wants to make solar energy from space possible. The company takes a rather unusual approach to this.

The idea of ​​obtaining solar energy from space seems to be within reach. Because the US company Aetherflux is planning the next big step. The start-up wants to send its first satellite into low Earth orbit (around 500 kilometers above the Earth) in the next twelve to 15 months.

This is special in that other companies always saw similar systems at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers. The costs of the new approach should therefore be significantly lower. The Aetherflux satellite will also be equipped with an infrared laser to send the solar energy collected in space to Earth.

A mobile ground station, which is around ten meters tall, then collects the energy. According to the company, the satellite's power is around one kilowatt. That's just enough to run a dishwasher. However, the first satellite will primarily serve test purposes.

Solar energy from space through constellation of satellites

This first test is intended not only to show that the system works, but also to ensure the safety and efficiency of energy transfer through the atmosphere. If the mission is successful, Aetherflux plans to build a constellation of satellites that will deliver energy continuously and in larger quantities.

The technology would be particularly useful in remote locations, such as disaster relief operations, remote mining areas or military outposts.

In the long term, the system could also become a stable energy source to support terrestrial wind and solar power plants to meet global energy needs and drive decarbonization. However, the question remains whether the theory works in practice.

Does the theory also work in practice?

One of the biggest hurdles in using solar energy from space is that the technology currently only exists in theory. It should work – but whether it really does remains to be seen. A cost-effective test like the one Aetherflux is planning could soon provide clarity and possibly pave the way for a revolutionary energy supply.

So it no longer seems so far-fetched that electricity could one day be obtained directly from Earth's orbit. This would eliminate one of the biggest disadvantages of solar energy: the night. This is because the sun can shine continuously on solar cells in space.

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