Thales Alenia Space will fine-tune plans to harvest solar energy in orbit, the European firm announced on Monday.
Named Solaris, theprojectaims toprovide Earth with energy from space-borne solar power plants.
The idea emerged amid an EU push to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Solar energy fromspacecould provide a clean alternative.
It would also be available 24/7, ensuring electrical supply continuity without needing significant storage systems.
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These results will guide follow-on research and development activities.
Among the other members is SwitzerlandsAstrostrom, which has proposed using a butterfly-inspired solar power satellite.
The TAS study will determine the viability of all Solaris plans.
By 2025, the project team wants to decide whetherto commercialise space-based solar energy.
Their initial objective will be creating a small-scale in-orbit demonstrator.
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he e(show all)Thomas is the managing editor of TNW.
He leads our coverage of European tech and oversees our talented team of writers.
Away from work, he enjoys playing chess (badly) and the guitar (even worse).
