Fossil fuels are finite. Nuclear power remains extremely controversial. Solar power remains relatively uncommon, and many have commented on the impracticality of widespread wind turbines. There's little agreement on the future of energy production. But how about utilising the Moon for our power needs?

Shimizu Corporation revealed their ambitious plan for the LUNA Ring back in 2011, but the concept has been receiving renewed attention today. The idea is that a huge belt of solar panels will be built around the lunar equator, which stretches for 11,000 kilometres. The ring - which would be upwards of 400 km wide - would transmit the solar energy converted on the Moon back to Earth via microwave and laser transmission. Robots would be extensively used in the construction process.

Shimizu has not elaborated on the costs of such a massive project, leading to some commentators suggesting the idea is unfeasible. Speaking to the Independent, the University of Liverpool's Prof Werner Hofer said, "Doing this in space is not a good idea because it is fantastically expensive and you probably never recover the energy you have to invest."

You can watch representatives of Shimizu explain the idea in the video below, which also shows concept art of what the structure would actually look like: