Iain Burns, Technologist (smartwaytodoit@gmail com)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_solar_power

Good Wikipedia entry about harvesting the sun’s power from orbit and then beaming power down to earth.

The system with lowest mass required in orbit (lower costs) is to use inflatable mirrors to focus heat onto thermal electrical power generators then beam that power down to ground aerials.

Assuming a 2GW solar collector array about 20-30m across in geostationary orbit, a 100m x 100m ground microwave aerial would receive 2kw per square metre for 24hrs per day even through clouds. This should not harm any lifeforms in the beam since this is equal/less than a sunny day of light energy density