来自太空的能源－Energy From Space

      CNN Student News

FancyEnglish         Energy From Space      课件首页

        December 11, 2007

(CNN Student News) -- December 11, 2007

Energy From Space

LLOYD: 
The Nobel committee says that Al Gore is an example of how an individual can encourage a response to global issues like climate change. But even the former vice president noted that it takes more than just raising awareness. He says that change can't happen without work or money. Miles O'Brien tells us about an environmentally-friendly technology that combines all three.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN CHIEF TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT: 
It is one long-range vision of the future that is generating more buzz than ever. It offers a solution to global warming that leaves the globe behind; solar power gathered in space and beamed back to our energy-hungry planet, with no impact on the climate.

GEORGE WHITESIDES, NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY: 
And we're gonna need renewable, sustainable sources. And space-based solar power is both unlimited and very clean. And that makes it, I think, a very key part of our future.

O'BRIEN: 
As audacious as it sounds, the concept is simple: Build huge solar arrays 22,000 miles in space, where the sun never sets and is six times more intense. Convert the electricity into microwaves. Beam them back to rectifying antennas on the ground, and convert it back into electricity 24 hours a day.

JOHN MANKINS, MANAGED ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES: 
There have been dramatic changes in the kinds of technologies that would be used to make such satellites possible.

O'BRIEN: 
The idea has been around for 40 years. Tests show the power beams work fine and would not pose any health threat, But so far, the cost has been too high. Electronics are smaller and solar arrays are more efficient and cheaper, but launch costs run at least $6,000 a pound. Even a small demonstration plant could cost at least $10 billion. For now at least, drilling down is a lot cheaper than drilling up. But in the next ten years, that all could change as the price of fossil heads into orbit. Miles O'Brien, CNN, Oslo, Norway.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

百科知识

视频下载