A group of Dysons made from solar panels will make the Earth inhabitant, suggesting research

As civilization becomes more and more sophisticated, so does their power needs. Advanced civilizations can require more force than they surround the host star with satellites collecting solar energy. These Dyson herds trap heat, so planets within the sphere can experience temperature rises. A new paper investigates this and concludes that a complete Dyson herd outside the Earth’s orbit raises the temperature by 140 K.

The Dyson swarm concept is a purely hypothetical concept, a theorized megastructure consisting of numerous satellites or habitats orbiting stars to capture and exploit energy output. Unlike the solid shell of Dyson spheres, herds are not engineering challenges, allowing for incremental structures as energy needs increase. First popularized by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960, this concept is one of the most ambitious yet potentially achievable space engineering feats, ultimately allowing civilizations to use a significant portion of the total energy output of the host star.

Currently, it’s only theoretical and science fiction stuff, but it has an impact on real scientific research. This is an idea that presents potential solutions to the vast energy needs as we take interim measures towards travel beyond the solar system. If we, or the advanced civilizations that could be there, are successful, they are classified as Type II on the Kardashev scale. This scale is used to clarify the level of technological advancement in civilizations based on the amount of energy that can be utilized and used.

Dyson herd structures could use solar power technology to convert star radiation into usable energy. The efficiency of energy conversion is heavily dependent on the temperature of solar cells, unlike its Earth-based equivalents, and requires a balance between heat exchange and the huge surface area of ​​the sun, outer space, and their structures. Temperature control of the structure is one of the challenges that must be overcome as it must be kept cool for optimal operation.

It’s not just the temperature of the structure that raises the question, Ian Marius Peters of Erlangen Naanberg of Helmholtz Institute claims about renewable energy. In his research paper, he explores changes in the environment of the planets within herds and spheres. This study examines whether such epidemics can be constructed using materials available in the solar system, but balances the goals of planetary energy capture with the need to maintain the Earth’s habitability and maintain the conditions that support life on Earth.

The findings are published in the Journal Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.

This paper concludes that the Dyson sphere surrounding the sun has a major impact on the Earth’s climate. Small spheres located within Earth’s orbit are unrealistic, either too hot for their own efficiency or have a major impact on the solar energy that arrives on Earth. Large spheres allow efficient energy conversion, but increase the Earth’s temperature by 140 k, completely neutralizing the Earth.

A compromise may involve creating a partial structure (a flock of Dysons) at 2.13au from the sun. This will harvest 4% of solar energy (15.6 Yottawatts, or 15.6 million watts) and raise the global temperature below 3K, which can be compared to the current trend of global warming. But it is still a very engineering feat, requiring 1.3 x 1023 kg of silicon.