{{Short description|Speculative engineering project}} 300px|thumb|The near side of the moon, from where energy would be beamed to Earth, according to the Luna Ring project.
'''Luna Ring''' is a speculative engineering project which consists of a series of solar generators, disposed around the equator of the Moon, that could send the generated electric energy back to the Earth via microwaves from the near side of the Moon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/the-luna-ring-concept/ |title=The Luna Ring concept |website=SSERVI |publisher=NASA }}</ref> The project was proposed by Japanese construction firm Shimizu Corporation, after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, creating public opposition against nuclear electric energy. Until then, Japan had relied heavily on nuclear power.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/10480950/Japanese-firm-plans-250-mile-wide-solar-panel-belt-around-Moon.html |title=Japanese firm plans 250 mile-wide solar panel belt around Moon |date= 28 November 2013|website=The Telegraph |access-date=February 27, 2018 |last1=Ryall |first1=Julian }}</ref>
== Construction ==
The construction of a concrete ring on the Moon's equator to support the solar panels would be performed by robots that would be teleguided from Earth. Then, the solar panels would be placed on the concrete layer, and connected to microwave and laser transmitting stations.<ref name="phys.org">{{cite web |url=https://phys.org/news/2013-11-japanese-firm-luna-solar-energy.html |title=Japanese firm proposes LUNA RING to send solar energy from moon to Earth |author=Bob Yirka |date=November 29, 2013 |website=Phys.org |access-date=February 27, 2018 }}</ref> The energy sent to Earth that way could be captured by receiving stations all through the day. The fact that the ring would surround the entire moon would mean that at least half of it would always be lit by the sun, resulting in constant electric production.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/moon-solar-energy-power |title=Beaming solar energy from the Moon could solve Earth's energy crisis |author=David Warmflash |date=29 March 2017 |magazine=Wired UK |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=February 27, 2018 }}</ref>
In 2013, Shimizu Corporation stated that the construction of the Luna Ring could start as early as 2035.<ref name="telegraph"/> However, the practical drawbacks of putting such a technically vast and complex project into place could hamper its construction, even if it could pave the way for simpler projects in clean energy production.<ref name="phys.org"/>
== See also ==
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://www.shimz.co.jp/english/theme/dream/lunaring.html Official page of the Luna Ring concept] on the Shimizu Corporation website.
Category:Science and technology in Japan Category:Photovoltaics Category:Proposed megastructures Category:Space technology Category:Electric power Category:Solar power Category:Solar power and space Category:Space-based economy