Solar power is no doubt the biggest source of clean energy. But the biggest problem with solar power is that the sun doesn’t shine all the time.
Now Tons of Mirrors, an energy company is planning to make sunlight a 24-hour phenomenon. The company’s CEO Ben Nowak claims to have developed a way to make sunlight a 24-hour phenomenon.
Ben Nowack, who previously worked with SpaceX is planning to install a special setup in space. This setup will include incorporating large mirrors and a collimator device on the International Space Station (ISS). This setup will help in redirecting sunlight to solar panels on Earth at night.
ISS as an orbital solar reflector
The sunlight-directing setup on ISS reflects sunlight to Earth while orbiting in space. Researchers at the University of Glasgow are currently working on space-based satellite solar reflector technology. This technology would enable large-scale solar farms to have access to sunlight at night. Nowack believes that the current design is scalable, efficient, and economical.
Nowack said, “Today, with the solar panels that are out there, it’s a $20 billion-a-year industry,”
“What I’m building is bigger than any of the markets they currently have. If this is the electric solution, and let’s say in 200 years this replaces fossil fuels, it’s a $17 trillion market.”
