Government slammed for ‘bonkers’ £16bn plan to construct photo voltaic farms in area
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is said to be exploring the science fiction-style proposals to help Britain hit its net zero targets
Government’s “bonkers” for £16 billion plan to potentially build solar farms in space dubbed “ridiculous”
Ministers have been slammed for a “bonkers” £16 billion plan to potentially build solar farms in space.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is said to be exploring the science fiction-style proposals to help Britain hit its net zero targets by decarbonising the country.
The plans have been outlined by consultants Frazer Nash in a report published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
The firm said space-based solar power could be developed by 2040, but indicated that it requires a £16.3 billion development programme.
The firm added that “public funding would be required for the majority of the development”.
They say it would involve satellites fitted with lightweight solar panels harvesting energy while in orbit around Earth.
Once collected, this energy would be transformed into microwave radiation and transmitted down to receiving stations on the ground.
“A space-based power system involves one or multiple satellites equipped with lightweight solar panels capturing the sun’s energy in space,” the report explained.
“The satellite generates electricity, converts it into microwave radiation and beams it to a ground-based rectifying antenna (rectenna).
“The rectenna converts the microwave energy into electricity.”
The report was originally commissioned in 2021 by then-Conservative business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, who tasked FrazerNash with examining the concept.
But former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith said: “This idea is off the leash.
“This is part of Labour’s religious drive to net zero regardless of costs.
“Putting stuff in space is ridiculous – how do you do that cheaply ….it’ll be at unbelievable cost. It is a bonkers idea.”
DESNZ has been contacted for comment.
