What if there were a way to generate clean solar electricity from space and send it directly to Earth? It sounds like science-fiction, but Caltech engineers are working on ways to collect solar energy on orbiting satellites and wirelessly beam that power back to stations on the ground. The results of their experiments suggest that space-based solar power may have a bright future. But while they’ve been able to show it’s possible on a demonstration satellite, getting power from orbit to Earth is a big challenge. WSJ’s Danny Lewis talks with science journalist Corey S. Powell about what it will take to wirelessly transmit solar energy and how it could transform the future of the grid.

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Further reading: 

Beaming Solar Energy From Space Gets a Step Closer 

The Next Bets for Renewable Energy 

Solar Boom Spreads to Timberlands and Self-Storage Rooftops 

Investments in Solar Power Eclipse Oil for First Time 

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