Dr David Criswell, a retired physicist from the University of Houston, has been developing Lunar-based Solar Power (LSP) for over 40 years.

It all depends on small, cheap satellites that relay microwave beams between the moon and receiving stations that are on earth which then turns into electricity. The microwaves could go through clouds with little energy loss and get to earth regardless of day time or night time.

This means that energy could be provided day or night and not be affected by the weather, no matter how harsh. The savings for households could be substantial with the average household spending 0.001c per kilowatt hours compared to 12c today.

President of Mankins Space Technology, John Mankins, says that the amount of power a power station on the moon could produce would be too much for a single location on earth.

However, a way to overcome a hurdle like this would be to divert the power once it reached earth and be distributed evenly from there. It could also be an added insight on how others can make full use out of renewable energy.

Dr David Criswell says that the moon is the only hope for the amount of energy the earth will require by 2050.

“By the year 2050, 10 billion people will require at least two kilowatts of electricity per person or a global total of 20 terawatts. I really think the moon is our only option for sustainable and affordable electric power on a global scale,” David says.