Solar and wind are needed today, but Starship could bring launch costs down enough that some highly optimized space solar panels with microwave power beaming could be viable within a decade.
Solar panels in space is the believable part; rays of concentrated energy being sent back to earth is what I'm skeptical about. Besides, solar panels have a limited lifetime; I don't believe space solar panels are a cost effective solution to solving the energy crisis.
We’ll need to move into space sooner or later if we want to continue exponential growth.
(100% agree that getting into space is important, and that if we want to continue exponential growth we'll need more than one planet. In fact, we'll need more than all the planets and we fairly rapidly (in cosmic terms) hit the point where the available volume of our light cone isn't enough. Maybe indefinite exponential growth isn't something we should feel entitled to...)
Yes. The frequencies that are not blocked are called "atmospheric windows". And there is indeed such a window for microwaves. These windows also exist for visible light and a range of IR, but those depend more on weather conditions.
Maybe illuminate existing solar arrays during nighttime? Any other energy receiver would be so far behind PV on the price / manufacturing learning curve
I never thought about this. Is there some orbit where this becomes feasible?
The only way to preserve the Earth is smart planning, reducing energy usage and moving industry to the space. IMO Earth should be sanctuary for people to enjoy their origins and for some rich people inevitably. Most people should move to other planets or space objects where pollution does not matter.