UK Trial Proves Robots Can Build Solar Farms in Space
▼ Summary
– UK startup Space Solar tested remote-controlled robots to assemble parts of a solar power satellite, proving robotics can build large-scale space structures.
– The trial was conducted at UKAEA’s Culham Campus, where fusion research robots were repurposed for space applications.
– Space Solar aims to launch a 30MW demonstrator by 2029 and a gigawatt-scale solar farm in the early 2030s, with UK Space Agency funding.
– Space-based solar power offers higher energy capture than Earth panels but faces high costs (€15bn–€20bn) and environmental concerns from rocket launches.
– ESA, NASA, and global startups are pursuing space-based solar energy despite challenges like remoteness, radiation, and extreme temperatures.
The future of clean energy may lie beyond Earth’s atmosphere, as recent UK trials demonstrate how robots could construct massive solar farms in space. A groundbreaking test conducted by British startup Space Solar has shown that remotely operated robotic arms can successfully assemble components for orbital solar power stations designed to beam renewable energy back to our planet.
The experiment took place at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Culham Campus, a hub for cutting-edge fusion research. Using two robotic arms, engineers assembled a prototype segment of what could eventually become a gigawatt-scale solar satellite. This milestone suggests that automated construction in space could revolutionize how we approach large-scale orbital infrastructure projects.
Sam Adlen, co-CEO of Space Solar, emphasized the broader implications of the trial. “This breakthrough isn’t just about solar energy—it paves the way for constructing everything from space-based data centers to next-generation power grids in orbit,” he explained. The same robotic technology being developed for fusion reactor maintenance could now play a dual role in assembling structures beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Professor Rob Buckingham of UKAEA noted striking similarities between building fusion reactors and space-based solar farms. Both environments present extreme challenges, including radiation exposure, temperature fluctuations, and the need for remote operation. The successful demonstration indicates that fusion-hardened robotics could be adapted for extraterrestrial construction projects with relative ease.
How space-based solar power works
Space Solar envisions deploying kilometer-long solar arrays in orbit, where sunlight is up to ten times more intense than on Earth. These satellites would convert solar energy into microwaves and transmit it wirelessly to ground stations, providing continuous renewable power regardless of weather conditions or nighttime hours. The company aims to launch a 30-megawatt test satellite by 2029—enough to power approximately 1,000 homes—with full-scale gigawatt stations planned for the early 2030s.
While the concept holds immense promise, significant hurdles remain. Cost remains a major barrier, with initial estimates suggesting a single gigawatt prototype could require €15–20 billion in development. Additionally, deploying such massive structures would likely involve hundreds of rocket launches, raising concerns about space debris and atmospheric pollution.
Despite these challenges, momentum is building behind space-based solar. Agencies like ESA and NASA, along with private firms across the UK, US, China, and Japan, are actively pursuing the technology. If successful, orbital solar farms could fundamentally transform how humanity harnesses renewable energy—proving that sometimes, the best solutions come from looking beyond our planet.
(Source: The Next Web)
