I have long had an interest in getting solar energy from space to earth.
About a year ago I read Japan was working toward that goal. They are making progress.
The View From North Central Idaho
Ramblings on explosives, guns, politics, and sex by a redneck Idaho farm boy who became a software engineer living near Seattle.
Transferring energy from space to the ground will of necessity involve “leakage” of some of that energy into the atmosphere. Wonder what effect that will have on the weather/environment. Every new technology has side effects. Some minor, some not so minor.
Why? We got all the oil we need to run the planet for ever. Collect up the vegetation and recycle it into oil.
Solar energy is great. But the planet already made the perfect solar collectors. Plants.
All we have to do is get in the carbon cycle with them. Simple tech that was proven years ago.
The problem is oligarchy. And the power, money, and control it would take from them.
We need power in space for space travel.
Meh, I am waiting for cold fusion. Probably get here about the same time.