A similar energy project had been proposed by NASA more than two decades ago but was never developed, while the UK government commissioned independent research supporting a £16bn British version in orbit by 2035.
The first launch for China's project is scheduled for 2028, when a trial satellite orbiting at a distance of around 400km (248 miles) will test the technology used to transmit energy from the power plant.
This satellite will "convert solar energy to microwaves or lasers and then direct the energy beams to various targets, including fixed locations on Earth and moving satellites" according to the South China Morning Post.
That depends on the intensity (power/area) of the beam, and the exact frequency used.
Some calculations for fun:
Peak sunlight at ground level is 1120W/m^2 The test station is targeting a power output of 10,000kW. If the beam intensity is limited to that of sunlight then at it's most intense the beam would have a ~3.4m diameter.
By the same metric, the eventual 2GW beam would have to be 1.5km across!
Microwave antennae have to be large but for this to be viable they'll probably have to make it more intense than sunlight. Sure microwaves don't give you skin cancer but they can penetrate and directly cook your tissues. They can cook your eyes like eggs!
DO NOT ENTER THE ENERGY BEAM :sicko-charging: