On: Australian government approves AAPowerLink project...

[stavros]

You get the same if you place solar panels in places around the equator, without all the messiness of orbital repairs and GW death rays. I can't see this being cheaper than just some panels on the ground.

[ExoticPearTree → stavros]

The funny thing about solar panels is that they are the most efficient at very low temperatures. They'd be more efficient at the poles or high up in the mountains where they can be kept cool.

A solar panel in space would be highly efficient.

[adrianN → stavros]

The death ray might be the feature that sells the whole thing.

[stavros → adrianN]

I like the way you think.

[eru → stavros]

Why would you want to do orbital repairs? For the amount of effort required, you'd just send up a replacement.

[stavros → eru]

And we're saying that deploying new solar sails (with integrated power transmitters) to orbit is cheaper than replacing a solar panel on earth?

[eru → stavros]

Not at the moment, but at some point it might be. Real estate on earth has lots of competing uses, so it has a lot of opportunity costs.