{"id":426355,"date":"2026-02-15T16:46:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T15:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=426355"},"modified":"2026-02-15T16:46:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T15:46:55","slug":"mad-miliband-plots-solar-farms-in-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=426355","title":{"rendered":"Mad Miliband plots solar farms in\u00a0space"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Paul Homewood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

h\/t Doug Brodie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest bonkers idea from Mad Miliband:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the Telegraph:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Solar farms could be deployed in space to help Britain hit <\/em>net zero targets<\/em><\/a>, according to a new report published by the Energy Department.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under ambitious clean power plans, orbiting solar satellites could be used to capture the sun\u2019s energy before beaming it down to an antenna on Earth to be converted into electricity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal has been cited in a new government study on the latest space technologies which suggests that <\/em>solar panels<\/em><\/a> could be installed on satellites on Earth before being launched into space.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is perhaps the most radical proposal yet as <\/em>Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary<\/em><\/a>, strives to achieve net zero by 2050.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpace-based solar power could provide Great Britain with constant, predictable, zero-carbon power at the GW [gigawatt] scale that displaces both intermittent renewables and fossil fuel generation,\u201d the report said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA space-based power system involves one or multiple satellites equipped with lightweight solar panels capturing the sun\u2019s energy in space.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe satellite generates electricity, converts it into microwave radiation and beams it to a ground-based rectifying antenna (rectenna). The rectenna converts the microwave energy into electricity.\u201d\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report was commissioned in 2021 by Kwasi Kwarteng, then the Conservative business secretary, whose brief included leading on net zero strategies and <\/em>space technology<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He commissioned the Frazer-Nash consultancy to investigate the idea, with the final report finally published this week by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It suggests that although initial costs would be high, they would plummet as the technology matured, potentially falling to between \u00a387 per megawatt hour (MWh) and \u00a3129 per MWh by 2040.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This compares with a predicted cost of \u00a3150 per MWh for new nuclear. The latest offshore wind contracts saw operators offered about \u00a390 per MWh for fixed turbines and \u00a3216 per MWh for floating wind.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This suggests that space-based power station operators could be given contracts for difference, giving them a guaranteed minimum price for the power generated. This is the same subsidy scheme used to support renewables such as wind.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the report warns that the UK Government would have to help fund initial development, suggesting that the best approach would be to fund a smaller system that could be scaled up later once investors had gained confidence.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full story here.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, they want to waste billions of pounds on a project that probably won\u2019t even work, that will, if it does work, provide electricity at a much higher cost and be vulnerable to attack. All in the hope that, when the technology matures, it might cost the same as nuclear power!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why not let the EU or China waste their money first, and then copy their technology if it does work?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for \u201czero carbon\u201d, how will they get all their satellites into space? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By wind power? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should also remember that satellites don\u2019t stay aloft forever. And when they drop out of orbit, we will need to spend more money sending the next lot up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No doubt the consultants who wrote this report are looking forward to more taxpayer cash to do more evaluation studies!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The latest bonkers idea from Mad Miliband:
\nAs for \u201czero carbon\u201d, how will they get all their satellites into space? By wind power? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":426359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691831484,691818833,691841407,691818154,691841406,691819094,691819505],"class_list":["post-426355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-energy-secretary-ed-miliband","tag-great-britain","tag-lightweight-solar-panels","tag-net-zero","tag-orbiting-solar-satellites","tag-renewable-green-energy","tag-solar-farms","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AQOCHf4DfVZCVCotL4BeaPqQ5AZm_LTFiHEViTaLKOLZmBCqjCUFkp8DV3eiXRNzLwvRQmOewXqcbnRGZLYwvLq5cOCy7YJuAHcYJWV1cAWi0BPwnFaS0oy3jz_rYcCY.jpeg?fit=1402%2C873&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1MUH","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":378021,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=378021","url_meta":{"origin":426355,"position":0},"title":"What Happens When There Is Too Much Solar\u00a0Power","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/12\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Mad Miliband plans to triple the current solar capacity of 16 GW by 2030. So, on a sunny day like today in 2030, we might see solar power running at 33 GW. You can add to that figure solar power from all the rooftops he wants to make compulsory for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"energy policy\"","block_context":{"text":"energy policy","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=energy-policy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/00-blackout-GettyImages-466231145-770.jpg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/00-blackout-GettyImages-466231145-770.jpg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/00-blackout-GettyImages-466231145-770.jpg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/00-blackout-GettyImages-466231145-770.jpg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/00-blackout-GettyImages-466231145-770.jpg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":386435,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=386435","url_meta":{"origin":426355,"position":1},"title":"Miliband to Cover Britain\u2019s Lakes in Floating Solar Panels","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/02\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Lakes and reservoirs will be covered with solar panels under Ed Miliband\u2019s plans to quadruple the use of the technology in Britain.","rel":"","context":"In \"Energy Secretary Ed Miliband\"","block_context":{"text":"Energy Secretary Ed Miliband","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=energy-secretary-ed-miliband"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0Screenshot-2025-07-02-175249.png?fit=1200%2C665&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0Screenshot-2025-07-02-175249.png?fit=1200%2C665&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0Screenshot-2025-07-02-175249.png?fit=1200%2C665&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0Screenshot-2025-07-02-175249.png?fit=1200%2C665&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0Screenshot-2025-07-02-175249.png?fit=1200%2C665&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":336558,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=336558","url_meta":{"origin":426355,"position":2},"title":"Fears for food security as Miliband pushes through Britain\u2019s biggest solar\u00a0farm","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/16\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Ed Miliband has been accused of endangering the nation\u2019s food security after giving the go-ahead for Britain\u2019s biggest solar farm on green land despite the objections of officials.","rel":"","context":"In \"biggest solar farm\"","block_context":{"text":"biggest solar farm","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=biggest-solar-farm"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0554296a5e78dbd98814b9b156a21f1bc-1.png?fit=1200%2C893&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0554296a5e78dbd98814b9b156a21f1bc-1.png?fit=1200%2C893&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0554296a5e78dbd98814b9b156a21f1bc-1.png?fit=1200%2C893&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0554296a5e78dbd98814b9b156a21f1bc-1.png?fit=1200%2C893&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/0554296a5e78dbd98814b9b156a21f1bc-1.png?fit=1200%2C893&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":363467,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=363467","url_meta":{"origin":426355,"position":3},"title":"Miliband approves huge solar farm being built by Dale\u00a0Vince","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/26\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Ed Miliband has been criticised after approving an application for a huge solar farm in Lincolnshire owned by millionaire Labour donor Dale Vince.","rel":"","context":"In \"Dale\u00a0Vince\"","block_context":{"text":"Dale\u00a0Vince","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=dale-vince-2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0pexels-photo-2800832.webp?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0pexels-photo-2800832.webp?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0pexels-photo-2800832.webp?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0pexels-photo-2800832.webp?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/0pexels-photo-2800832.webp?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":378696,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=378696","url_meta":{"origin":426355,"position":4},"title":"Chinese \u2018kill switches\u2019 found in US solar farms","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/17\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Ed Miliband under pressure to pause green energy blitz after hidden components discovered.","rel":"","context":"In \"China\"","block_context":{"text":"China","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=china"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0ChatGPT-Image-17.-Mai-2025-19_53_18.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0ChatGPT-Image-17.-Mai-2025-19_53_18.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0ChatGPT-Image-17.-Mai-2025-19_53_18.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0ChatGPT-Image-17.-Mai-2025-19_53_18.png?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":365938,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=365938","url_meta":{"origin":426355,"position":5},"title":"Why Solar Power Does Not Work in\u00a0Britain","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/13\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Crazy Ed Miliband wants to cover the countryside with hundreds of industrial scale solar farms.","rel":"","context":"In \"Energy Secretary Ed Miliband\"","block_context":{"text":"Energy Secretary Ed Miliband","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=energy-secretary-ed-miliband"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Llanwern_Drone_4_-_credit_NextEnergy_Capital.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Llanwern_Drone_4_-_credit_NextEnergy_Capital.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Llanwern_Drone_4_-_credit_NextEnergy_Capital.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Llanwern_Drone_4_-_credit_NextEnergy_Capital.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/0Llanwern_Drone_4_-_credit_NextEnergy_Capital.jpg?fit=1200%2C670&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=426355"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":426361,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426355\/revisions\/426361"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/426359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=426355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=426355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=426355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}