2011-06-05

LUNA RING: Solar Power via the Moon


Shimizu Corporation construction firm’s research branch, CSP, unveiled a long-term planning project to install a belt of photovoltaic panels across the surface of the Moon. Power gathered from the 13,000 terrawatts of continuous solar energy the Moon’s surface receives daily would be beamed back to an Earth-based receiving station via microwave or laser transmission, where it would then be used to power public offices, hospitals and schools across the globe. A staff of remotely controlled robots would be in constant rotation to make repairs and provide maintenance for the LUNA RING installation, though the structure would require some human personnel on-site. To make the process more efficient, the proposed plan includes building the LUNA RING’s solar panels on the lunar surface using local materials, rather than launching pre-built panels to the site.


LUNA RING/Shimizu's Dream - Shimizu Corporation




Robots will play a vital role in construction on the lunar surface. They will be tele-operated 24 hours a day from the Earth.

Construction and resource extraction

Assembling units in space

Work on the lunar surface