Sun Chasing Space-Based Solar Power Project

under development

The Sun Chasing project is an initiative by China's Xidian University to develop large-scale space-based solar power systems that collect solar energy in orbit and transmit it wirelessly to Earth or spacecraft, providing continuous and weather-independent power. Early experiments have demonstrated wireless power transmission over distances exceeding 100 meters with efficiencies around 20.8%, delivering up to 1,180 watts of power. The system uses spherical crown concentrators for solar collection, onboard conversion to electrical power, and microwave transmission via a 1.2-meter diameter phased array antenna to a 5.2-meter diameter rectenna receiver. The project aims to conduct in-orbit tests next to advance towards commercial viability.