Wireless power beaming, once considered science fiction, is finally becoming a reality. Researchers and engineers are harnessing advanced electromagnetic technologies to transmit electricity without wires. The concept, first proposed by Nikola Tesla in 1901, has gained momentum over the past two decades with significant breakthroughs, massive investments, and near-commercial prototypes.
Tesla’s Forgotten Vision Revived
Nikola Tesla envisioned broadcasting power through the ionosphere as far back as 1901. Although his idea was initially met with skepticism, it has proven resilient. Engineer William C. Brown reignited the spark in 1964 by using microwave power to keep a small helicopter airborne. Later, Brown and NASA collaborated on transmitting 30 kilowatts over 1.6 kilometers with a 50% efficiency rate in 1975.
Advances in Technology
Decades of obstacles have been overcome through improvements in miniaturized electronics, laser technology, and digital control systems. These advancements have reframed wireless energy transmission as viable and potentially superior to wired infrastructure in certain contexts. Companies like EMROD and Reach Power are already achieving 95% efficiency, rivaling wired systems with greater flexibility.
Safety and Implications
Safety mechanisms pause the energy stream if a person or object crosses the beam, while radiation exposure levels remain below hazardous thresholds. This makes the system “safe for people and animals.” The implications extend beyond ground-based power, with DARPA exploring ways to collect solar energy from orbit and beam it directly to Earth.
Space-Based Solar Stations
The most ambitious vision involves space-based solar stations that collect sunlight in orbit, convert it to electricity, and beam it to receivers on Earth. JAXA is already working on launching such a solar power station by 2030, targeting a clean, uninterrupted energy supply beamed from orbit.
Quiet Commercial Deployment
Commercial deployment has begun, with companies like Powercast and Wi Charge selling wireless power solutions for retail environments and smart sensor networks. These systems are being used to power lighting and digital displays without cables or battery swaps, providing a glimpse of what could become mainstream.
Wireless electricity is no longer just a concept; it’s becoming an everyday utility. With the growing pressure to decarbonize, decentralize, and digitize energy infrastructure, this technology could soon revolutionize homes worldwide.
Source: https://indiandefencereview.com/after-124-years-wireless-electricity-powered-by-electromagnetism-is-now-a-possibility