Solar panels could be stationed in orbit in a huge multi-country project similar to the International Space Station, The National has been told.
The floating solar farm would collect the Sun's energy – with no clouds in the way – and beam it wirelessly back to Earth using electromagnetic waves.
A space summit in London was told the concept is “entering mainstream conversations” but a lack of funding is holding up research.
Nonetheless, making the technology viable by 2050 “sounds very doable”, said Paul Bate, the chief executive of the UK Space Agency, who called for countries to work together on the idea.
“Something that is beaming power down, we may well want to share that resource. It's not going to be based in any particular country,” he told The National.
“No one's ever built anything this big in space before. It's an order of magnitude bigger than anything anyone's built. So we have no monopoly on that expertise.
“Looking at something like the International Space Station, that's been built by multiple countries. We would expect that to be happening again here.”
Space bosses on Wednesday pledged support to an idea hailed as “truly transformational” in the search for clean, stable power sources.
Engineers have been tasked with working out how to make the novel technology workable and safe from space debris or sabotage.
A key benefit is that, unlike solar power on Earth, it would not be weather-dependent.
The UK “is trying to build a secure energy supply for when wind doesn’t blow and the Sun doesn’t shine”, said Energy Minister Amanda Solloway.
“That is precisely why space solar is just a fantastic opportunity and this is why we need to pursue it.”
As part of net-zero plans, the UK has a target to produce 70 gigawatts of solar power by 2035, a five-fold increase.
But space could take that “considerably higher – quite literally, and perhaps even 35,000km higher,” Ms Solloway said.
Britain is “determined to make sure we get the full potential of space solar in the future energy mix”, she said.
However, investment in the field “remains low” compared to other clean technology, said Josef Aschbacher, the head of the European Space Agency.
Some of the technology is in its infancy and there are questions about costs, debris and the huge size of the project.
One estimate is that a solar farm in orbit would be 17 times the size of the International Space Station, which is due for retirement in 2031.
There are doubts whether research commissioned by the European Space Agency will be ready in time for a 2025 deadline to decide whether to move forward.
Europe has also faced problems in independently launching spacecraft, especially after collaboration with Russia ended due to the war in Ukraine.
Officials want to see more energy companies signal their interest, with France's Engie involved in the mirror study and the UK branch of EDF looking into the impact of solar storms.
Mr Aschbacher said a “significant boost” in research funding would be vital and could bring wider benefits such as developing wireless transmission technology.
Nations at risk due to climate change – in pictures
The idea is that energy captured in space is picked up on Earth by a special antenna (a rectenna) hooked up to power grids.
An alternative being explored in France is to use mirrors stationed in space to reflect sunlight back to receivers on Earth.
“To accelerate the transition to clean energy, we need to innovate beyond conventional solutions,” Mr Aschbacher said.
“Space solutions such as space-based solar power hold immense promise in catalysing this change.”
A new solar power supply in 2050 would come too late to slash carbon emissions before then but could provide a longer-term “baseload”.
Mr Bate said tests on small-scale demonstrators would show whether “technological leaps” will make it possible before then or whether new barriers will emerge.
But “2050, so 25 years away, sounds very doable from the independent analysis to date, and it could be even sooner than that,” he said.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Saturday's schedule at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 race, 12:30pm
Formula 1 final practice, 2pm
Formula 1 qualifying, 5pm
Formula 2 race, 6:40pm
Performance: Sam Smith
Company%20profile
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The studios taking part (so far)
- Punch
- Vogue Fitness
- Sweat
- Bodytree Studio
- The Hot House
- The Room
- Inspire Sports (Ladies Only)
- Cryo
57%20Seconds
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more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Naga
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Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
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Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MO
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Sunday's games
All times UAE:
Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace, 4pm
Manchester City v Arsenal, 6.15pm
Everton v Watford, 8.30pm
Chelsea v Manchester United, 8.30pm
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Army of the Dead
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
Three stars
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
The bio
Academics: Phd in strategic management in University of Wales
Number one caps: His best-seller caps are in shades of grey, blue, black and yellow
Reading: Is immersed in books on colours to understand more about the usage of different shades
Sport: Started playing polo two years ago. Helps him relax, plus he enjoys the speed and focus
Cars: Loves exotic cars and currently drives a Bentley Bentayga
Holiday: Favourite travel destinations are London and St Tropez
