So far, solar energy from space was strictly science fiction: you could dream about it, write about it and maybe even do a small study but it was not something that received any amount of serious money.
Sixteen Japanese companies have set aside 15 billion euro’s in the coming 4 years to develop technology to do just that.The cost have to come down hundred-fold before that becomes competitive so it’s not something that will happen overnight. The aim is to have a 1 GigaWatt (typical size) powerplant in space in 2030.
Interesting times ahead!