Hacker News Reader

How would capturing the beamed energy on earth be any easier than capturing sunlight directly?

Maybe illuminate existing solar arrays during nighttime? Any other energy receiver would be so far behind PV on the price / manufacturing learning curve

View on HN

Main benefit is avoiding transmission losses through our atmosphere. Capturing the signal is easy (we have satellite communication already)

>> Maybe illuminate existing solar arrays during nighttime?

I never thought about this. Is there some orbit where this becomes feasible?

A sun synchronous orbit above the terminator would do it.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com