Scientists are working on a new way to collect solar energy in space. They want to create a technology where sunlight is turned into laser beams right away, so this energy can be sent across huge distances.

This could mean power can move from one satellite to another, or even from space back to Earth. Their idea comes from the photosynthesis process that plants and bacteria use to make energy from sunlight.

The scientists are focusing on certain bacteria that can collect light even in very dim conditions. These bacteria have special parts, like tiny antennas, that grab almost every bit of light and send it where it’s needed.

The project, called APACE, is supported by European and UK research funds. The scientists will first test their idea in labs on Earth, then see if it can work in space. They’ll study bacteria to learn how their light-catching parts work and try to make similar parts artificially. These will then be mixed with new materials to create a special type of laser that uses sunlight directly.

More sustainable than solar panels

This technology is different from regular solar panels, which turn sunlight into electricity. It uses a natural process that could be more sustainable, especially in space where you can’t easily replace or send new parts.

Their technology will use sunlight’s energy efficiently, making it strong enough to create laser beams without needing extra electricity. Since bacteria can grow and even survive in space, this could be a way to make power right where it’s needed, like on space stations or for missions to the Moon or Mars.

“This technology has the potential to revolutionise how we power space operations, making exploration more sustainable while also advancing clean energy technology here on Earth,” says theoretical research leader Erik Gauger, in a press release issued by Heriot-Watt University. “All major space agencies have lunar or Mars missions in their plans and we hope to help power them.”

The scientists hope to have a working model ready in three years.

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