China reveals plans to launch a fleet of mile-long solar panels into space

China plans to launch a fleet of mile-long solar panels into space by 2035 and beam the energy back to Earth in a bid to meet its 2060 carbon neutral target. Reports suggest that once fully operational by 2050, the space-based solar array will send a similar amount of electricity into the grid as a nuclear power station. The idea for a space power station was first suggested by science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov in 1941 and has been explored by several countries including the UK and US. Above the Earth there are no clouds and no day or night that could obstruct the sun's ray – making a space solar station a constant zero carbon power source. However, the Chinese government appear to be ready to go from exploring the science and technology behind the idea, to putting a system into practice.