Japan Plans To Turn The Moon Into One Huge Solar Power Plant

Ever since the disaster at Fukushima nuclear power plant, Japan has been looking to alternatives to nuclear power for their energy needs.

Solar has been an enormous aid in transitioning away from nuclear power, and one Japanese company has an interesting idea for bringing more solar power to the world. They want to build a massive solar power station - on the moon.

Shimizu Corporation, one of the oldest and largest construction companies in Japan, has presented its vision for solving the world's energy problems.

They suggest setting up a huge belt of solar panels on the moon. The solar energy collectors would cover about 400 km and would transfer the energy produced to us through microwaves or laser beams. The energy would be received by ground stations, making it an endless power source.

Shimizu wants to build concrete covered with solar panels to lay alone the equator of the moon, which would be a whopping 6800 miles long. The project is called "Luna Ring."

The project would produce about 13,000 terawatts of electricity every day, which is about triple of what the United States produces annually. This much energy would allow many people who have never lived with electricity to finally access safe, clean, affordable power.

The company is looking far in the future for getting the project started. They would ideally like to begin construction in 2035. It's unclear how much money, time and resources would be needed to complete the project.

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