Lasers to beam solar energy collected in space to Earth

Space engineers plan to put satellites into orbit that can collect large amounts of energy from the sun and convert it into a infrared laser beam transmitted back to earth as an alternative to the planet's fast disappearing energy sources.

Experts at European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS) Astrium, Europe's largest space company, are working on a small demonstrator of a full sized space-based power station, a network of which could meet demands of electricity 24X7.

"There is a global need for increased energy generation that does not have an environmental impact," the Telegraph quoted Matthew Perren, head of innovation at Astrium's headquarters in Paris, as saying.

"The real advantage of space solar power is that it can provide power on demand as we can essentially point the laser beam where ever we like on the earth below the orbit.

"Looking to the future we envisage large power stations in space that are capable of transmitting energy to any point in the planet on demand," Perren added.