Would It be possible to take energy out of solar flares?

Question

If they have the power to mess with radio signals, millions of miles away, wouldn't they be powerful enough to produce electrical energy if maybe a satellite of some sort went closer to collect the energy? Thanks for you help!!!

Answer 1

You vastly underestimate the distance to the Sun. You cannot just send a satellite closer. The way to get energy from the Sun is with solar panels, which can be on Earth or, as some advocate, orbiting Earth in space. But even the proposed solar power satellites are up there just to get above the clouds and avoid the day night cycle caused by the bulk of the planet Earth. Being in orbit around Earth does not put them closer to the Sun in any useful way, just like walking 3 steps east from Chicago doesn't put you closer to London in any useful way. Technically you would be closer, but who cares because the amount closer is way, WAY too small compared to the total distance.