redvbooks Chapter 157 Space Photovoltaics
Chapter 157 Space Photovoltaics
Three days after the research institute was unveiled, Zuo Cheng called the core team to the strategic conference room.
The conference room was on the fourth floor, overlooking the entire Hangzhou Science and Technology Park. Rows of office buildings lined the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the distant mountains were faintly visible through the morning mist. Nine people sat on either side of the long table. Zuo Cheng sat at the head of the table, with Yu Ying to his right and Li Guodong to his left. Shen Yiming, Han Lu, Chen Hao, Fang Ze, and Liu Wei took their seats in that order, while Qiu Pei and Wei Jia sat side-by-side against the wall.
Zuo Cheng didn't exchange pleasantries.
"Space photovoltaics project officially approved."
As he spoke, he tapped the table twice with his right index finger. Everyone present was familiar with this gesture; it was Zuo Cheng's habit when making important decisions.
Li Guodong opened his laptop and projected a diagram onto the large screen.
"The principle behind space photovoltaics isn't complicated," he said calmly, with the reporting rhythm honed over thirty years in the aerospace system. "It involves deploying solar cell arrays in geostationary orbit to convert solar energy into electricity, which is then transmitted to a ground receiving station via microwave beams. Theoretically, one square kilometer of solar panels in space can collect three to five times the energy of a similarly sized photovoltaic power station on Earth every day."
He paused for a moment and glanced at the people present.
"No cloud cover, no day-night cycle, no atmospheric scattering. This is the biggest advantage of space photovoltaics."
Liu Wei raised his hand: "Chief Engineer, what about the launch cost? Sending a square kilometer of solar panels into space, the rocket alone must cost an astronomical sum."
Li Guodong glanced at Zuo Cheng. Zuo Cheng nodded slightly.
"Good question. Traditional chemical rocket launches are indeed too expensive, so we won't go all in at once. The plan is to proceed in three steps. First, we'll launch a small verification satellite, with a solar panel area of no more than 50 square meters, carried by a Long March rocket, keeping costs under control. Second, after successfully verifying microwave transmission, we'll launch a medium-sized test satellite, with the solar panel area increased to 2,000 square meters. The third step is the commercialization phase, which requires waiting for reusable rocket technology to mature and significantly reduce launch costs."
The people in the meeting room exchanged glances, their eyes conveying understanding. Step by step, one cannot become fat overnight.
Qiu Pei took over the conversation. He switched to another image on the screen, which was a densely packed table of orbital parameters.
"Technically, there are three core components. First, solar energy collection, which involves the design and deployment of solar panel arrays. Second, microwave transmission, which converts electrical energy into microwave beams and transmits them directionally to the ground. Third, ground reception, which involves rectifier antenna arrays."
Qiu Pei's voice was faster than Li Guodong's, carrying the precision unique to scholars.
"Of the three core components, microwave transmission is the most challenging. Currently, there hasn't been a true space-to-ground transmission experiment globally. The US conducted a ground-based simulation in 2019, achieving an efficiency of barely 68%, far from commercial application. Japan's JAXA proposed a plan in 2020, but it was shelved due to funding issues."
Wei Jia opened his notebook, his tone calm but his data solid.
"The atmosphere is the biggest obstacle. When a microwave beam passes through the atmosphere, water vapor, clouds, and temperature gradients all cause energy attenuation. The atmospheric correction database I've accumulated over the past fifteen years in the aerospace system covers 92 percent of China's geographical area. This is our trump card."
Yu Ying listened the whole time, occasionally jotting down a few words in her notebook. She only spoke after the three of them had finished speaking.
"I've reviewed your technology roadmap. The general direction is fine, but there's one key parameter that needs to be reassessed."
She stood up, walked to the screen, and tapped the line for microwave transmission efficiency with her finger.
"Your target is 75%. But to achieve commercial-grade economics, that figure needs to be at least 80%. A 75% transmission efficiency means that for every kilowatt-hour transmitted, a quarter will be lost. Add in transmission and maintenance costs, and the cost per kilowatt-hour will be over two yuan, making it uncompetitive in the market."
The meeting room was silent for three seconds.
Li Guodong looked at the numbers on the screen without refuting them. He knew in his heart that Yu Ying was right. The 75% figure was his prediction based on traditional methods; to break through it, a completely new technological path was needed.
"So what's your suggestion?" Zuo Cheng asked.
Yu Ying returned to her seat and opened her notebook.
"We're pursuing two paths simultaneously. First, we need to optimize the existing solution, pushing the efficiency of traditional microwave transmission from 75% to 80%. This requires Qiu Pei to redesign the beamforming algorithm, and Wei Jia to provide a more refined atmospheric attenuation model. Second, we need to explore phased array microwave transmission schemes, a direction that both the US and Japan are trying, but no one has succeeded yet. If we can master phased arrays, the transmission efficiency could potentially exceed 85%."
Shen Yiming interjected, "Phase array solutions require a significant amount of computing resources to control beam pointing. Our AI branch includes adaptive modulation and intelligent satellite network scheduling, which might allow for cross-branch fusion."
Zuo Cheng glanced at Shen Yiming. Shen Yiming met his gaze but didn't continue. Some things didn't need to be discussed in detail in a meeting.
Zuo Cheng turned to Han Lu: "What's your assessment of the market?"
Han Lu opened her tablet and pulled up a data file.
"The global photovoltaic market exceeded 400 billion yuan last year, while space photovoltaics is currently nonexistent. However, the National Development and Reform Commission is already preparing the 14th Five-Year Plan for New Energy, and space photovoltaics is expected to be included. If it is incorporated into the national strategy, supporting policies and funding will follow quickly. I estimate that within three to five years, the domestic space photovoltaic market will be at least 100 billion yuan."
Zuo Cheng tapped the table.
"Let's clarify the division of labor. Li Guodong will be in charge of the overall technical solution and launch plan; Qiu Pei will be responsible for orbit design and beamforming algorithms; Wei Jia will be in charge of the atmospheric correction model; and Shen Yiming will provide technical support in AI. Yu Ying will coordinate the research institute and request a progress report from me weekly. Han Lu will be responsible for the preparations for the National Development and Reform Commission's symposium and will strive to secure a seat at the meeting."
He stood up and walked to the window.
"Space photovoltaics isn't a technological project; it's a gamble. A gamble on the next decade of human energy. We've taken the gamble, and we have to win."
No one spoke in the meeting room.
Zuo Cheng turned around and looked at everyone present.
"The first verification satellite will be launched within three years. Commercial verification will be completed within five years. This is my timeline."
Li Guodong was the first to stand up. The 62-year-old's knees made a soft crack as he stood up, but his back remained ramrod straight.
"clear."
As Yu Ying put away her notebook and left the conference room, she glanced back at the orbital parameter table still lit up on the screen. Between 360 kilometers and 36,000 kilometers, there were countless engineering challenges to overcome in the geostationary orbit.
But there was no hesitation in her eyes.
My phone rang. It was a message from Han Lu: The application for the NDRC symposium has passed the initial review, and the final list will be announced next Monday.