China could accelerate the development of the Zhuri \u201cChasing the Sun\u201d project, an ambitious plan to build a space-based solar power station.<\/p>\n
If China pulls this off, then the tech could allegedly offer a perpetual fountain of clean energy while potentially turning the destructive storms into manageable weather events.<\/p>\n
And not just this, an expert claims that it could charge satellites and other space-based infrastructure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently reported that the project\u2019s roadmap includes a major 2030 orbital test capable of generating a full megawatt of power.<\/p>\n
To reach its 2030 goal, China would need to assemble an orbital structure that weighs more than the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
Chase the sun and stop storms plan<\/p>\n
Without clouds or night cycles, space solar<\/a> is roughly 10 times more efficient than ground-based panels.<\/p>\n The project\u2019s ultimate blueprint calls for a massive, kilometer-wide circular power station in geostationary orbit, 36,000 kilometers (22,370 miles) above Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n At this strategic altitude, the facility would be capable of generating gigawatt-level electricity, providing a constant and high-capacity stream of clean energy<\/a> back to the planet.<\/p>\n The technology is being designed for both energy transmission<\/a> and climate intervention.<\/p>\n In a recent article for the People\u2019s Daily, Duan, a professor at Xidian University, suggested that the high-frequency microwave beams used to transmit electricity could be redirected.\u00a0<\/p>\n It could be repurposed to heat atmospheric moisture in storms.\u00a0<\/p>\n This targeted thermal energy could disrupt regional air circulation, allowing scientists to theoretically \u201ctame\u201d typhoon intensity or steer them away from vulnerable coastlines.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the energy output were high enough, it could alter regional atmospheric circulation and change a typhoon\u2019s intensity and path,\u201d Baoyan, the lead project scientist, stated<\/a>.\u00a0However, this needs to be demonstrated first.<\/p>\n In addition to its Earth-facing goals, the station is envisioned as a \u201cspace-based power bank\u201d capable of wirelessly charging satellites, future space stations, and deep-space probes.\u00a0<\/p>\n With a continuous power supply in orbit, this technology could extend the lifespan and range of exploration missions, like future lunar bases and global space internet networks.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Project challenges<\/p>\n Since its inception in 2013<\/a>, the project has transitioned from theory to tangible milestones, anchored by a 75-meter ground-based test tower built in 2022 to simulate the full solar-to-microwave energy cycle.\u00a0<\/p>\n Recent technical milestones include a \u201cone-to-many\u201d transmission capability \u2014 allowing a single beam to power multiple moving targets simultaneously. The team also made improvements in beam precision and hardware miniaturization.\u00a0<\/p>\n These advancements are key steps toward making huge equipment lighter and more efficient for feasible space deployment.<\/p>\n However, the path to \u201ctaming\u201d typhoons is littered with risks.\u00a0<\/p>\n Critics point out that a gigawatt-level microwave beam is, by definition, a high-energy directed weapon. If a beam strays by even a fraction of a degree, it could fry the electronics of passing satellites<\/a> or trigger electrical discharges in an already congested Low Earth Orbit.<\/p>\n