A study by researchers at the University of Berkeley has determined that, contrary to widely accepted theory, solar energy allows a mission to Mars and even a settlement on the Red Planet.
Many are the scientists and engineers who consider nuclear energy to be the most suitable to face a space trip to Mars and a subsequent stay in the Red planetsince it is a constant and reliable source of energy over time.
However, a study recently published in the journal Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences states that solar energy is as efficient or even more efficient than nuclear energy on most of the surface of Mars.
«Photovoltaic energy coupled to certain configurations of hydrogen storage exceeds nuclear fusion reactors in more than 50% of the planet’s surface»
This may seem strange considering that the hours of day and night on Mars are similar to those on Earth and that the red powder of this still largely unexplored planet covers practically everything.
Solar energy and hydrogen
Both characteristics of Mars play against solar energy and photovoltaic panelsbut if we add hydrogen to the equation, things change a lot.
at least that is what the study sayswhich indicates that the combination of photovoltaic panels and hydrogen production for storage in fuel cells would exceed the performance of nuclear energy.
In this way, it would be possible to continue to have power during the night and during sandstorms, which would allow a reliable supply of electricity in a mission of six people and a stay on Mars of 480 days.
Aaron Berliner, a bioengineering doctoral student at UC Berkeley, has pointed out that “photovoltaic power generation coupled to certain energy storage configurations in molecular hydrogen exceeds nuclear fusion reactors in more than 50% of the area of the planet.”
“Mainly in those regions around the equatorial bandwhich contrasts quite a bit with what has been proposed over and over again in the literature, which is that it will be nuclear energy, ”Berliner expands.
This would apply to both nuclear fission and fusion. In recent years, NASA has considered this type of energy key to future robotic and human exploration of Mars. In that sense, the Kilopower nuclear fission reactors miniaturized developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are a good example of this.