Even if Japan has a sensible energy policy with energy efficiency and low carbon solutions, some of its companies have original ideas. Indeed after space-based solar, some are studying installing panels on the moon.
The Shimizu Corporation is willing to put a 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) belt of solar panels to form the Luna Ring. All the energy would be transferred to Earth via microwaves or laser. This would thus require two transformations.
Of course, this project is not for tomorrow or the day after, it is more a vision for 2100 than anything else as the construction would require mining local resources and robots.
But the big problem I have with this project is that it is seeing a solution in the moon when we have more than ample resources here, on good ol’ Earth.
Indeed, harnessing solar energy in the deserts can already provide all the energy we need.
If solar wasn’t enough, we could still get the billions of tonnes of Uranium in the seas and have millena of low carbon electricity with fast breeder reactors (see Sustainable Energy – without the hot air).
Of course, we will need huge energy efficiency and conservation policies to make sure we will never lack energy.
What do you think ?