Japan Wants to Build a Solar Ring Around the Moon That Will Provide Endless Clean Energy to Earth
The Daily Galaxy • • business
Key Points:
- Japanese company Shimizu Corporation proposed the Luna Ring, a 6,800-mile belt of solar panels around the Moon’s equator, designed to generate continuous solar power without Earth’s weather or night limitations.
- The system would convert lunar solar energy into electricity, transmit it via microwaves and lasers to Earth-based receiving stations, and potentially support a hydrogen-based energy society by producing fuel from lunar resources.
- Construction would rely heavily on tele-operated robots using local lunar materials to build and maintain the solar array, minimizing the need to transport materials from Earth.
- Despite its potential, the Luna Ring faces significant challenges, primarily the immense costs and unproven technology needed for long-distance power transmission and large-scale lunar construction.
- As of 2011, the project remained conceptual with no funding or official backing, though interest briefly increased in Japan following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster; no further progress has been reported since.
