A Skeptic’s Take on Beaming Power to Earth from Space

The article “A Skeptic’s Take on Beaming Power to Earth from Space” by Henri Barde argues that space-based solar power, though appealing in theory, is far from practical due to immense technical, financial, and logistical challenges. Building massive orbiting solar stations to beam energy to Earth would cost hundreds of billions, face major efficiency losses, require unprecedented robotic assembly in space, and pose safety and debris risks. Despite renewed interest from global space agencies, Barde concludes that such projects are unrealistic for the foreseeable future and that investment should focus instead on improving terrestrial renewable energy and storage solutions.

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IEEE Techverse

October 31, 2025

4 min

The accelerating buildout of solar farms on Earth is already hitting speed bumps, including public pushback against the large tracts of land required and a ballooning backlog of requests for new transmission lines and grid connections. Energy experts have been warning that electricity is likely to get more expensive and less reliable unless renewable power that waxes and wanes under inconstant sunlight and wind is backed up by generators that can run whenever needed. To space enthusiasts, that raises an obvious question: Why not stick solar power plants where the sun always shines?

A Skeptic’s Take on Beaming Power to Earth from Space

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