Produced in collaboration with How power beaming could

change the way we power

everything from satellites to
mobile phones and reduce
carbon emissions.

Power beaming
comes of age
1  MIT Technology Review Insights

Preface

“Power beaming comes of age” is an MIT Technology Review Insights report

developed in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute.
The report is based on interviews with researchers, physicists, and senior
executives of power beaming companies. The interviews were conducted in
July and August 2022 to evaluate the prospects of power beaming; its
economic, human, and environmental implications; and the challenges of
making the technology reliable, effective, wide-ranging, and secure. Adam
Green was the writer, Kwee Chuan Yeo was the editor, and Nicola Crepaldi
was the publisher. The research is editorially independent, and the views
expressed are those of MIT Technology Review Insights.

We would like to thank the following executives for providing their time
and insights:

Keval Dattani, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Space Power

Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Researcher, Directed Energy Research Center,

Technology Innovation Institute, Abu Dhabi

John Mankins, Chair, International Academy of Astronautics,

and Director, Solar Space Technologies

Tom Nugent, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, PowerLight

Chris Rodenbeck, Head of Advanced Concepts, U.S. Naval Research

Laboratory

Stephen Sweeney, Professor of Physics, James Watt School of Engineering,

University of Glasgow
 MIT Technology Review Insights 2

Foreword
Welcome to this MIT Technology Review Insights report. Developed in collaboration with
Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute (TII), this report analyzes the development of power
beaming and how its implementation can boost existing technologies across multiple fields,
ranging from space exploration to post-disaster humanitarian aid, while reducing carbon emissions.

The idea of power beaming—the point-to-point transfer of electrical energy by a directed

electromagnetic beam—was originated by Serbian-American physicist Nikola Tesla in the late 19th
century. Although Tesla did not live to see his groundbreaking research come to fruition, his dream
of using the earth and atmosphere as a conduit to transmit electricity over long distances has been
realized to a considerable degree.

There are two primary approaches to power beaming: microwave and laser. After being discussed
for close to two centuries, the first power-beaming prototypes emerged in the 1960s. These early
efforts were confined to microwave frequencies, the same part of the electromagnetic spectrum
that today teems with wi-fi, Bluetooth, and various other wireless signals. However, laser-based
power beaming is now seen to have an advantage over microwaves, because lasers deliver large
amounts of photonic energy to a small aperture with limited radio frequency interference.

Researchers are increasingly advocating for power beaming as an enabler for sustainable and
economical distribution of plentiful and accessible energy in the form of electromagnetic
power. We are witnessing new and improved use cases for power beaming in areas as varied
as telecommunications, transportation, environmental monitoring, space development, and
disaster recovery. There is also increasing need for wireless charging of portable consumer
electronic devices and electric vehicles as the world transitions from hydrocarbon fuels to a
more sustainable future.

The Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) at TII focuses on advancing this critical and
disruptive technology at its state-of-the-art laser labs, dedicated to offering a unique research
environment for the scientific development of laser power beaming. DERC researchers can
harness the immense benefits of laser power beaming in real-world applications such as
sustainable power solutions for remote locations, reducing the need for cumbersome wires in
conveying electricity, enhancing radio frequency (wi-fi) services, and tracking the effects of
climate change.

Challenges remain, as with most promising technologies. We must persevere in our quest to
discover transformative solutions that will improve the quality of lives of people everywhere.
As renowned American computer scientist Alan Kay said, “The best way to predict the future is
to create it.”

We thank all those who contributed their insights to this report, and we hope you enjoy following
the next stage of our scientific journey in the field of laser power beaming.

Dr. Ray O. Johnson

Chief Executive Officer, Technology Innovation Institute
3  MIT Technology Review Insights

CONTENTS

01 Executive summary...................................................4

02 T
 wo types of power beaming:
laser and microwave.................................................6

03 An old idea whose time has come......................10

04 Beaming gets real..................................................... 11

Powering space.......................................................................11

Green beams of power......................................................12

A connected world................................................................13

Post-disaster recovery.......................................................14

05 C
 onclusion.................................................................. 16

Going the distance.................................................................16

Risk aversion.............................................................................16

Public education......................................................................17
 MIT Technology Review Insights 4

01 Executive
summary

P
ower beaming has long been a dream of The following are the report’s
engineers and innovators. Defined as the key findings:
point-to-point transfer of electrical energy by
a directed electromagnetic beam, the idea Lasers and microwaves offer distinct approaches to
originated from Serbian-American physicist power beaming, each with benefits and drawbacks.
Nikola Tesla at the turn of the 20th century. After decades While microwave-based power beaming has a more
of alternating between optimism and abandonment, established track record thanks to lower cost of
power beaming is finally becoming a reality, thanks to equipment, laser-based approaches are showing promise,
research led by space and military agencies, and backed by an increasing flurry of successful trials and
increasing attention from startups and the private sector. pilots. Laser-based beaming has high-impact prospects
for powering equipment in remote sites, the low-earth
Three main factors have accelerated its development. orbit economy, electric transportation, and underwater
Sectors that were once beyond the reach of private applications. Lasers’ chief advantage is the narrow
enterprises—such as satellites, the low-earth orbit concentration of beams, which enables smaller trans-
economy, and drones—are becoming viable businesses. mission and receiver installations. On the other hand,
Enterprises face increasing pressure to offer radical their disadvantage is the disturbance caused by atmos-
energy solutions to achieve net-zero emissions. The pheric conditions and human interruption, although
global need for power to provide ubiquitous connectivity there are ongoing efforts to tackle these deficits.
through 5G, 6G, and smart infrastructure is rising. This
report explains the prospects of power beaming; its Power beaming could quicken energy decarbonization,
economic, human, and environmental implications; and boost internet connectivity, and enable post-disaster
the challenges of making the technology reliable, effective, response. Climate change is spurring investment in power
wide-ranging, and secure. beaming, which can support more radical approaches
to energy transition. Due to solar energy’s continuous
availability, beaming it directly from space to Earth offers
superior conversion compared to land-based solar panels
when averaged over time. Electric transportation—from
trains to planes or drones—benefits from power beaming
by avoiding the disruption and costs caused by cabling,
5  MIT Technology Review Insights

wiring, or recharge landings. Beaming could also transfer Commercial investment in power beaming remains
power from remote renewables sites such as offshore muted due to a combination of historical skepticism
wind farms. Other areas where power beaming could and uncertain time horizons. While private investment in
revolutionize energy solutions include refueling space futuristic sectors like nuclear fusion energy and satellites
missions and satellites, 5G provision, and post-disaster booms, the power-beaming sector has received relatively
humanitarian response in remote regions or areas where little investment and venture capital relative to the scale
networks have collapsed due to extreme weather events, of the opportunity. Experts believe this is partly a “first-
whose frequency will be increased by climate change. mover” problem as capital allocators await signs of
In the short term, as efficiencies continue to improve, momentum. It may be a hangover of past decisions to
power beaming has the capacity to reduce the number abandon beaming due to high costs and impracticality,
of wasted batteries, especially in low-power, across-the- even though such reticence was based on earlier
room applications. technologies that have now been surpassed. Power
beaming also tends to fall between two R&D comfort
Public engagement and education are crucial to zones for large corporations: it does not deliver short-
support the uptake of power beaming. Lasers and term financial gain but it is also not long term enough
microwaves may conjure images of death rays and to justify a steady financing stream.
unanticipated health risks. Public backlash against 5G
shows the importance of education and information
about the safety of new, “invisible” technologies. Based
on decades of research, power beaming via both
microwaves and lasers has been shown to be safe.
The public is comfortable living amidst invisible forces
like wi-fi and wireless data transfer; power beaming
is simply the newest chapter.
 MIT Technology Review Insights 6

02 Two types of power

beaming: laser and
microwave

Power beaming is a distinct class of wireless power

transmission, says Chris Rodenbeck, head of advanced
concepts at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. It differs
from, for instance, near-field wireless power transmission
or the kind already available for some electric vehicles,

P
smartphones, or toothbrushes, as well as radio-frequency
ower beaming—defined1 as the efficient identification (RFID) tags and electromagnetic card
point-to-point transfer of electrical energy by readers. Rodenbeck also distinguishes power beaming
a directed electromagnetic beam—is an old from directed energy, a military application for destruction,
idea. Tesla experimented with it at the turn degradation, or disruption.
of the 20th century, before disappointing
results prompted him to sell his transmission tower to Thanks to its high intensity and long-range transmission,
pay off debts.2 Today, its moment may have finally arrived power beaming has the potential to deliver energy to
as positive developments, on Earth and in space, make satellites, space installations, remote sites, remote-
power beaming practical, affordable, and safe. The controlled vehicles, high-altitude airships, remote sensors,
climate crisis is also a catalyst as the world seeks new communication devices, and industrial locations. It could
approaches to energy production and transmission also send power from remote sites, such as offshore wind
(see Figure 1). farms, doing away with cabling and physical infrastructure.

Thanks to its high intensity and long-range transmission,

power beaming has the potential to deliver energy to
satellites, space installations, remote sites, remote-
controlled vehicles, high-altitude airships, remote
sensors, communication devices, and industrial
locations.
7  MIT Technology Review Insights

Figure 1: A conceptual power beaming system

The European Space Agency has sought ideas for technologies and concepts for beaming solar power
to Earth to help Europe become carbon neutral by 2050.

Incident solar
1 radiation
In orbit, the sunlight’s
intensity is much
greater than on
Earth.

Sunlight capture

2 Sunlight is converted
into a current,
then prepared for
beaming to Earth.

Power beaming

3 Energy is sent down to Earth

using wireless technologies
such as laser emitters.
The energy beam must be
accurate and reliable, and
should retain as much of
its power as possible as
it travels through Earth’s
atmosphere.

Beam capture and

4 energy conversion
The energy beam is captured
with an antenna and converted
into electricity. Satellites can
beam energy down to a single
ground site or several locations.

Power transmission

5 Systems that collect the

space-based solar power
on Earth must be safely and
sustainably integrated into
existing power grids.

Energy utilization

6 Space-based solar power

technologies could help Europe
achieve its aim of becoming carbon
neutral by 2050. They could also
be used for science and exploration
missions where power sources
are limited.

Source: The European Space Agency, 2020 3

 MIT Technology Review Insights 8

The two primary approaches to power beaming are

microwave and laser. Microwave-based power beaming
Laser versus
pilot projects found success in the 1960s. American microwave
electrical engineer William C. Brown published the first
paper on the subject in 1961, which he followed up with a There’s “a big distinction” between
model helicopter demonstration.4 Three years later, a laser and microwave power beaming,
helicopter was flown for 10 hours at 15 meters, powered according to Chris Rodenbeck, head
by a microwave beam.5 of advanced concepts at the U.S.
Naval Research Laboratory (see
In the 1960s and 1970s, initiatives in microwaves used Figure 2). The downsides of lasers
frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum that today are that specific wavelengths can be
teem with wi-fi and Bluetooth technologies.6 Since then, dangerous to human health, especially
innovations have allowed higher frequency ranges, the eyes. Lasers also degrade as they
according to Rodenbeck, and the cost of microwave pass through the atmosphere and air.
technologies has plunged since the 1980s. The approach Therefore, their usage is currently
has continued to score technical gains. In April 2022, focused on remote sites over short
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory scientists announced a distances, the low-earth orbit econ-
successful wireless transmission of 1.6 kilowatts of power omy, and underwater applications.
over one kilometer in Maryland, a significant breakthrough Microwaves, in contrast, experience
in proving the feasibility of point-to-point wireless little loss of beam strength even during
electricity transfer via microwaves.7 rainfall. The technical path to scaling
beamed power to megawatt scales is
Laser power beaming is the second approach. Also “less clear for lasers than for micro-
known as optical beaming, it takes electricity from a waves,” says Rodenbeck.
readily available source, converts it into light using lasers,
and projects it through open air—also known as “free Figure 2: Comparison of the attributes of
space”—or through optical fiber. At the other end, laser and microwave power beaming
specialized solar cells matching the lasers’ wavelength Some researchers consider lasers to be best
convert that intense light back into electricity. suited for beaming power to small sites or mobile
platforms, while microwave beams excel at
high-power, long-distance applications. However,
other experts argue that power intensity is the
real metric for comparison, and on that basis,
lasers have a huge advantage over microwaves.
Laser Microwave

Penetration No Excellent

“Over the last 30 years, Conversion

efficiency
Ok Good

lasers have become more Required

aperture size
Small Large

powerful, more efficient, Safety Ok Good

and at steadily declining Economy

Poor Good
prices.” of scale

Source: IEEE Journal of Microwaves, 20218

 om Nugent, Chief Technology Officer

T
and Co-founder, PowerLight
9  MIT Technology Review Insights

Unlike solar power, though, laser beaming can be

delivered continuously and directed at nearly any location.
“Lasers really come into
This makes it appealing in domains like post-disaster their own in domains
recovery and also for power transfer in tough terrains like
conflict zones where militaries might not be able to
where the weather and
recharge or refuel. Laser-based beaming offers significant human interruption are
prospects for powering equipment in a wide array of
fields, including telecommunications, disaster relief, the less relevant, or where
low-earth orbit economy, electric aerial and land
transportation, and remote-controlled underwater
you want to beam power
applications. “Over the last 30 years, lasers have become in a mobile way or to a
more powerful, more efficient, and at steadily declining
prices,” says Tom Nugent, chief technology officer and highly specific location.”
co-founder of PowerLight. The U.S. company specializes
Chris Rodenbeck, Head of Advanced
in high power delivered at long range under its “kilowatts-
over-kilometers” tagline.
Concepts, U.S. Naval Research
Laboratory
In 2019, Washington-based PowerLight proved that its
laser system could transmit 400 watts of electricity.
Although it was a small amount of power, the company—
following the de rigueur cultural practice—ceremoniously
used it to brew a cup of coffee.9 A year later, it followed up
with a viability demonstration using a much smaller, lighter
receiver, which could be suitable for powering drones.10
Researchers are now focusing on a project to beam
1,000 watts over one kilometer. PowerLight, which won a
$900,000 contest held by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) in 2009 (under the name
LaserMotive), chose lasers due to their advantages
over microwaves. “By the nature of the wavelength being
shorter, the sizes of the transmitter and receiver are
orders of magnitude smaller,” explains Nugent.

The ability of lasers to deliver large amounts of photonic

energy to a small aperture makes them an appealing
approach to wireless transmission. Separately, research
groups at Japan’s Kindai University, the Beijing Institute of
Technology in China, the University of Colorado Boulder in
the U.S., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Airbus
have also carried out laser power-beaming projects in
recent years.11 “Lasers really come into their own in
domains where the weather and human interruption are
less relevant, or where you want to beam power in a
mobile way or to a highly specific location,” says
Rodenbeck.
 MIT Technology Review Insights 10

03
E
An old idea whose
time has come

arly automobiles were powered by electricity

before the internal combustion engine became
the preferred approach. Tesla, after whom
today’s preeminent electric car company is
named, made early inroads into the idea of large
For NASA, the attraction of power beaming lies in fueling
space missions, satellites, and space infrastructures. In
the mid-2000s, the agency partnered with LaserMotive,
now PowerLight, to explore the use of lasers to power
satellites.13 “NASA and the DoD have a long history of
power transfer via free space. Yet, neither he nor others buying down risk for new technologies and they are
made much headway. trying to push the edge of what can be done, so they are
a natural first step to prove technology before industry
The U.S. government, which has had a formative feels comfortable,” says Nugent.
influence on so many of today’s ubiquitous gadgets and
technologies, from the internet to the global positioning Those historical military and government investments
system, explored the idea of wireless power beaming in have prompted civilian use cases and investments.
the late 1960s before deciding it was too expensive.12 “The defense sector has always driven the evolution
But it did not entirely drop the idea. NASA and the U.S. of non-military technologies by being at the edge of
Department of Defense (DoD) continued to invest in innovation,” says Chaouki Kasmi, chief researcher of the
power beaming, which offered tantalizing prospects to Directed Energy Research Center (DERC) at Abu Dhabi’s
their respective mandates. Technology Innovation Institute (TII). “Being able to
generate and propagate high amounts of energy has
For the DoD, transporting fuel in conflict zones is costly triggered an interest in transferring ‘energy for energy,’
and puts personnel in the line of fire. Being able to power instead of just energy for defense applications. This leads
military infrastructures via beams would confer a major us to the current development of hyper lasers, hyper
tactical advantage. Remote-controlled aerial vehicles, optics, and photovoltaic (solar) cells, which can be tailored
for surveillance and military engagement, also become for certain wavelengths or frequencies according to the
more practical when they do not need to be landed for specific domain.” The scale and scope of investment is
recharging. “Microwave power beaming can dispense now global—from New Zealand and Japan to the UK and
with all the ships, trains, and convoys that militaries use U.S.—and power beaming is making headway in new
to transport fuel, and allow them to instantaneously have fields from telecommunications to international
electric power anywhere in the world,” says Rodenbeck. humanitarian aid.

More recently, power beaming has taken on geopolitical Meanwhile, power beaming could also be the break-
implications for improving infrastructure resilience. While through that makes interstellar travel possible. A 2016
rogue nations and cybercriminals increasingly seek to paper argued that it is currently feasible to “seriously
attack public utilities and infrastructures, the ability to discuss, plan, and execute a program to use directed
quickly provide power to a downed network or geography energy to propel spacecraft to relativistic speeds allowing
has clear security appeal. the possibility of realistic interstellar flights for the first
time.”14
11  MIT Technology Review Insights

04 Beaming
gets real

T
he attraction of solar power from space is growing as satellite launch costs have fallen (see Figure
abundant thermonuclear radiation, says 3), which has propelled the low-earth orbit market.16
Rodenbeck: “It is 24 hours a day, seven days a At the same time, the number of satellites in operation has
week, and the intensity of sunlight is much continued to increase (see Figure 4), which leads to
greater, and it can be transferred to the Earth a rising need to deliver efficient energy to satellites and
using power beaming.” According to John Mankins, a space infrastructures.17
former scientist at NASA and now chair of the Inter-
national Academy of Astronautics, today is “a time of Currently, satellites are deorbited when they run out of
tremendous opportunity for space solar power.” Mankins fuel, but companies such as Orbit Fab are investigating the
attributes this to recent innovations—which have led potential for refueling satellites with propellant harvested
to cheaper satellites, mass production of modular in space.18 Space mining is the practice of extracting
space technologies, and advances in electronics and resources from the moon, Mars, and asteroids.19 Just as
components—and the imperative to tackle the the Earth does, these planetary bodies contain reserves of
climate crisis. materials such as iron, nickel, gold, and platinum. Mining
and harvesting resources on site is a cost-effective way to
Powering space maintain operations in space and could transform satellite
NASA estimates the space economy has expanded over management. In 2021, NASA awarded a contract to four
60% in the last decade to $400 billion.15 It is likely to keep companies to extract small amounts of lunar regolith (soil,

Figure 3: Costs of $ per kilogram

25000
launching satellites
have fallen since
20000
the 1960s
Declining costs of satellite 15000

launches have fueled growth

10000
in the low-earth orbit market
and are expected to create 5000

opportunities for disruptive 0

) 1) 2) 4) 0) ) 8) 9) 0)
67 81
) ) 1) 2) 17 0)
trends. (19 (19 I
98
I (1 (19
96
(2
00
(2
00 (200 (200 (2
01
y(
20 (2
01
(2
01
(2
02 202
(
rn
V tle lta A / B V I V / b 9 a v e m a n
e 6 3
ut EC IIA las elta .1 a
n e st lc
ian
H
tu h De H- At lco nH Sy Vu
Sa eS e5 D z2 Fa Ar
ac ian oyu a lco nch
Sp A r S F au
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration, 202020 Sp Satellite/year of launch
 MIT Technology Review Insights 12

“Most of the volume in satellites is taken

up by power supply. The day we can power
them from the sky, we can make them smarter.”
Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Researcher of the
Directed Energy Research Center, Technology Innovation Institute

dust, and rock) by 2024.21 Primarily a fine powdery dust, A former Rolls-Royce engineer, Keval Dattani, chief
regolith may become a valuable resource if nuclear fusion executive officer and founder of Space Power, says the
becomes viable and widespread in the future. current approach to powering satellites is wasteful and
unsustainable. “Satellites use the sun as their energy
Lunar ice is another tantalizing prospect. Researchers are source, but that only gives you a certain amount of power
finding mounting evidence of water on the moon’s surface, per meter square,” he explains. The weak spot of the
which improves the prospect of human lunar habitation in low-orbit satellite industry, says Dattani, is that companies
the future.22 Splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen and are spending “five to 10 million dollars on a shoebox that’s
liquifying these constituents creates rocket fuel, and only working 2% to 5% of the time.” Dattani has founded a
refueling at a lunar base or in the moon’s orbit negates the startup to build laser-based power to establish a wireless
need for transporting large quantities of propellant and power grid for the low-earth orbit economy.
fuel, making rockets lighter and subsequently cheaper to
launch.23 “Most of the volume in satellites is taken up by Green beams of power
power supply,” says Kasmi. “The day we can power them Advocates believe satellite power could also have climate
from the sky, we can make them smarter.” benefits.“The global acknowledgment of the climate crisis
will change the market dynamics for space solar power,
and there’s a good chance that it will go forward to
Figure 3: Number of operating systems applications,” says Mankins.
Number of
satellites has risen over the satellites
past two decades 5000 In space-based solar power, sunlight would be
converted into electricity via photovoltaic (or solar)
Since 2016, the number of
cells. This electricity would then be turned into
satellites launched has
4000 microwave energy transmitted from antennas and
increased 20% annually, beamed to a targeted location on Earth, where
with a leap of over 30% microwaves are converted back into electricity and
in 2020 and 2021. distributed into the grid. A transmitter for 2,000
3000
megawatts—enough to power around a million homes—
would be around one mile or 1.5 kilometers in radius,
with a receiver that is about six kilometers in diameter.25
2000 One estimate puts the most efficient space-based
solar station at 10 square kilometers, or the equivalent
of 1,400 football pitches.26 With no atmospheric inter-
ference or cloud, space-based solar panels can
1000
generate nearly 40 times the energy of those on Earth.27
Indepen-dent research funded by the UK government
0
has concluded that space-based solar power is
2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 technically feasible, affordable, and competitive.28
Source: Union of Concerned Scientists, 202224
13  MIT Technology Review Insights

A connected world
iW er less chag r ing
Power beaming is also sparking interest in the mobile o f r electric
and telecommunications sectors. In 2018, researchers
at the University of Washington created a laser-based
trn
a sportta ion
wireless power delivery system to charge smartphone On the ground, power beaming could also
devices from across a room.29 Currently, wireless decarbonize the transport sector. Electrifi-
power—in small quantity—is available for certain cation of public transport will improve both
consumer electronics like some iPhone models, although emissions and air pollution, but wired power
the devices need to be in proximity. Chinese tech adds a burden to electricity grids as they must
company Huawei expects power-beaming charging transmit large voltages over distance to avoid
capacity in smartphones to become a reality within “two dissipation.34 Meanwhile, wiring for electric
or three generations.”30 The company announced in trains and trams has to be used in tandem with
2020 they had filed a patent in 2019 outlining a laser- moving contacts which can spark or produce
beaming charging offering that would allow several contaminants. Laser power beaming could
similarly equipped devices to charge via a single wireless accelerate electric transport without the
module, purely by being in the same room.31.32 cabling complexity.

But to offer a step change, wireless power will have to Electric vehicles can already be charged
be transferred to large-scale systems, and companies wirelessly, but this requires physical technology
are investing in pilot initiatives to prove it can work. In to be installed in specific locations. Laser
October 2021, Ericsson partnered with PowerLight to beaming could achieve an efficiency of 10% to
deliver the world’s first laser beam–powered 5G base 37%, with improvements to photovoltaic cells
station in a Seattle pilot (see Figure 5).33 The telecom- and laser diodes increasing efficiency yet
munications industry is among the first adopters further in the future.35 “There’s potential to
because the advent of 5G connectivity across cities have cars that are charging when they’re parked
and rural areas requires a step change in infrastructure, on the street, or even the possibility for some
with many more base stations and antennas erected. level of charging while you drive,” says Stephen
This is a disruptive process, requiring installation of Sweeney, Professor of Physics, James Watt
connectivity devices to street infrastructure and School of Engineering, University of Glasgow.
buildings. Getting power to this network is also “Charging infrastructure like this would also
important: high-tech facilities and factories that want mean smaller batteries and lighter cars.”
to build private 5G and 6G networks and develop edge
computing would further increase energy needs.

At scale, power beaming could transfer power from a

distance without any connection to the grid, overcoming a
significant obstacle to building new cell sites. “It can take
utility companies up to 18 months or more to run a power

“There’s potential to have cars that are charging when

they’re parked on the street, or even the possibility
for some level of charging while you drive.”
Stephen Sweeney, Professor of Physics,
James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow
 MIT Technology Review Insights 14

line or install a meter, and when you need these radios

every couple of blocks, it’s slowing down how fast
Power beaming could also
telecommunications companies can deploy these nodes,” significantly boost post-
says Nugent.
disaster humanitarian aid,
Drones—a fast-growing market (see Figure 6) in ferrying as the world braces for
everything from healthcare supplies and humanitarian
aid to consumer goods—are a niche field that is also more frequent extreme
well-positioned to benefit from power beaming. Battery-
powered drones have limited flight durations and cannot
weather events.
be reliably powered by solar energy because it is too
dependent on clear weather.36 Laser power can with lasers to beam power to drones. It is also exploring
surmount these challenges. Demonstrations of laser- the possibility of retrofitting aerial refueling aircraft with
power beamed drones stretch back to the early 2000s.37 underwing beaming pods that would enable wireless
A decade ago, Lockheed Martin and LaserMotive (now in-flight recharging.40 Low- or zero-pollution hybrid or
PowerLight) extended a Stalker flight time to over 48 all-electric aircraft, personal air taxis, and commercial
hours—an improvement of 2,400%—using a laser power airliners could all be powered over most or all of their
system that delivered energy wirelessly, providing a range by a network of laser stations.41
continual source of power.38
Post-disaster recovery
More recently, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Power beaming could also significantly boost post-
Projects Agency (DARPA) has been developing high- disaster humanitarian aid, as the world braces for more
intensity laser power beaming techniques to deliver frequent extreme weather events. “In specific places
either instantaneous energy or sustained energy, to where the power network is down—the telecom-
eliminate the need for refueling stops, which allow longer munication network is down—we will be able to provide
continuous flight times. In 2018, the U.S. agency energy and temporary infrastructures for faster disaster
partnered with Silent Falcon UAS Technologies to recovery,” says Kasmi. When typhoons and earthquakes
continue developing laser-based charging methods cause utility infrastructure to collapse, such events turn
using their fixed-wing remote-control aerial system.39 into large disasters. And downed power systems hamper
Currently, DARPA is pivoting to potentially equip tankers recovery efforts when light sources for nighttime rescue

Figure 5: Conceptual transmission of power

PowerLight partnered with Ericsson to demonstrate a commercial application of laser-based wireless
transfer: a safety ring surrounds the power beam and acts as a control element that disengages the
transmitter if anything crosses the beam.

Power beam Power beam

transmitter receiver

Safe optical
power beam
Power in Power out

Source: Ericsson, 202142

15  MIT Technology Review Insights

operations are extinguished or essential facilities like

hospitals and telecommunications systems shut down.
While innovations such as solar-powered communications
tools help, the prospect of having portable, pop-up energy
installations that can either power generators or plug into
functional grid infrastructure would transform humanitar-
ian recovery.43

Meanwhile, leapfrog “connectivity beaming” is setting a

precedent that has implications for beaming power to
remote areas. Alphabet’s Project Taara has delivered
700 terabytes of data across the Congo River, between “Power beaming is
Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo and Kinshasa
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to bridge the
potentially poised to
connectivity gap between the two cities.44 The same help solve challenges
logic applies to energy. “Power beaming is potentially
poised to help solve challenges such as provision of
such as provision
internet and connectivity for those in remote areas, of internet and
without traditionally built-up power grids or infra-
structure,” says Kasmi. “The technology means the connectivity for those
removal of cables and wires, which in turn gives people
more mobility—a must-have in a modern world of
in remote areas,
devices, communication, and connectivity.” without traditionally
Kasmi says TII is working to bring game-changing built-up power grids or
technologies to improve the lives of individuals across
the globe. “Being able to provide technology that
infrastructure.”
could power a remote area in Africa, or anywhere else  haouki Kasmi, Chief Researcher of
C
in the world, would be an extreme moment of pride,” the Directed Energy Research Center,
he says. Technology Innovation Institute

Figure 6: Commercial remote-controlled aerial vehicle market of North America ($ million)

Revenue in the UAV market in the U.S. has been growing since 2014 and is expected to reach about
$6.7 billion in 2026.

6703.8

Others

Media and entertainment

Security and law

enforcement

Energy sector
monitoring

732.7

Agriculture
0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

Source: Drones, 202245

 MIT Technology Review Insights 16

05 Conclusion

R
esearchers, entrepreneurs, and companies This could be overcome, says Kasmi: “We are investing
have dreamed of power beaming for over a a lot in the propagation of high-powered lasers because
century. Today, the sector is taking flight one of the main challenges of lasers is the interactions
thanks to a confluence of forces, including between atmosphere and environment, including
the pressing need for energy innovations to humidity.” TII is developing compensation algorithms
make a net-zero transition feasible; the emergence of to reduce the impact of the environment on laser
new commercial opportunities in sectors like drones propagation, allowing for an increased distance
and the low-earth orbit economy; and the need to power between receivers.
ubiquitous connectivity in the era of 5G, 6G, edge
computing, and digital twins. Risk aversion
Power beaming’s benefits to societal goals like
But making power beaming a reality in everyday life decarbonization or humanitarian aid indicate that the
requires bolder vision and ambition from governments technology is not merely a luxury utility or plaything.
and especially the private sector, to look afresh at an idea Governments and militaries have given the sector
that humanity has dreamed of for over a century. There essential startup capital and research, but the private
are also obstacles to overcome—in the case of lasers, sector has remained, until recently, on the fringes.
finding ways to support longer-distance transmission— Even Elon Musk, the world’s most optimistic entre-
and a proactive public education campaign to assuage preneur, has voiced skepticism about ambitious
fears or unfounded health worries. space-to-terrestrial power beaming plans.47 Mankins
blames a mix of the “first-mover” problem and a
Going the distance conceptual hangover from past decades about
Lasers have improved significantly, but they still have the unviability of the goal.
limits. Laser beaming requires a line of sight between
transmitter and receiver, which makes interruptions “Since the 1970s, there was a predisposition, a visceral
costly in terms of energy continuity. Lasers also degrade feeling among aerospace and energy professionals, that
as they travel through air, since atmospheric gases space solar power was so wildly expensive that it was just
absorb their energy.46 According to Rodenbeck, one of never going to be practical,” says Mankins. “But that was
the biggest drawbacks of using laser beams to transmit using the technology of 1975. If you wanted a computer
power is their inability to penetrate cloud, rain, or fog in your home in 1975, you would have needed a bigger
without losing most of the power. Choosing the type of house. The technologies have now changed but opinions
laser and its wavelength is therefore crucial, because have not.”
some laser wavelengths are better optimized for
atmospheric transmission and less prone to scattering Mankins views it as a self-fulfilling prophecy—historical
by water vapor. skepticism leads to insufficient action, which in turn
17  MIT Technology Review Insights

Power beaming’s benefits to societal goals like

decarbonization or humanitarian aid indicate that the
technology is not merely a luxury utility or plaything.

makes companies and investors uneasy about the idea attitudes toward exciting but complex technological
of backing businesses in the power-beaming sector. breakthroughs are rife with misinformation. When the
Venture funds and angel investors are making bets in pandemic struck, conspiracy theorists linked 5G to
areas like nuclear fusion energy and satellites without covid-19. Almost 90 mobile phone towers were attacked in
being physicists or rocket scientists, simply because the UK48, a string of attacks were carried out on telecom
everyone else is doing it. “Investors know about it and are workers49, and a Change.org anti-5G petition racked up
comfortable with it, because somebody is already doing 110,000 signatures before it was removed.50  Despite the
it,” he says. “The fact that everyone is doing it gives the World Health Organization continuing to advocate for the
decision-maker at the investment fund the confidence to safety of 5G devices, unrest and mistrust remain, and
make a play. Nobody wants to be the first in the water. If I effective public communication will be essential for the
lose money on something nobody has ever heard of, I’m acceptance of a useful, novel energy system.51
out of here.”
“Scientists have this challenge with all modern
Dattani thinks the incentives at large corporations have technologies, in that we have to educate people in the
also yet to align with the demands of risky, large-scale simplest way, and they need to be convinced that these
innovations with short life cycles. He says companies innovations are important,” says Kasmi. “We should not try
either want a long-term steady funding stream with to enforce the implementation of technologies without
outcomes decades in the future, or safe short-term that education.”
bets. “I get frustrated at the trope of innovation in big
organizations,” he says. “They have to talk about it so they According to Nugent, PowerLight’s goal is to engage the
can grab talent but if it’s risky, if it’s not 90% sure you will public and help to normalize “shipping large amounts of
get a return, they are not going to put their money into power through the air visibly, just as safely as you do with
that.” an extension cord or power line.” While lasers may sound
futuristic, experts say they have been around since the
Public education 1960s and are in many applications. “There has been a
In addition to historical skepticism, public opinions about huge amount of work done on safety and understanding
power beaming’s safety need to be addressed. Although what limits or parameters control whether something is
the focus on power beaming to date has been limited to safe—for example, how much power can be safely
large systems or remote domains like space, “Nikola transmitted at different wavelengths,” says Sweeney.
Tesla was originally thinking about everyday applica- “There are already strong, well-developed regulations
tions,” explains Sweeney. Indeed, power beaming can be on what lasers you can use and at what powers.”
compared with today’s wireless technology and devices,
says Rodenbeck. “We’re so accustomed to these devices Kasmi notes that new technologies will require certifi-
in our home, we forget that substantial research and cations and international standards. But instead of
safety testing was undertaken to ensure they are safe.” reacting with rules and policies when a technology is
But to get power beaming to the same level of ubiquity, ready, regulation needs to be proactive, and standards
citizens and governments will need to be on board. must be defined to facilitate easy adoption and a shorter
time to market as they become available, he argues.
The early backlash against 5G—branded variously as “There are still a lot of unknowns, but what we’re doing
dangerous, cancer-causing, or even a form of government every day is providing answers and solving those
surveillance—is a warning to the industry that public unknowns.”
 MIT Technology Review Insights 18

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19  MIT Technology Review Insights

Footnotes

1. Christopher Rodenbeck, Paul Jaffe, Bernd H. Strassner II, Paul E. Hausgen, James O. McSpadden, Hooman Kazemi, Naoki Shinohara, Brian B. Tierney, Christopher B.
DePuma, and Amanda P. Self, “Microwave and Millimeter Wave Power Beaming,” IEEE Journal of Microwaves, 2021.

2. “Electricity can be transmitted through the air,” The Economist, February 25, 2021.

3.  European Space Agency’s “Space-based solar power,” ESA, August 19, 2020.

4. “Laser power beaming fact sheet,” LaserMotive, Inc., April 19, 2018, p. 4.

5.  Rodenbeck et al., “Microwave and Millimeter Wave Power Beaming.”

6.  Paul Jaffe, “Practical power beaming gets real,” The Impact Lab, May 21, 2022.

7.  Angeline Leishman, “Navy Researchers Conduct Wireless Electricity Transfer Through Microwaves; Christopher Rodenbeck Quoted,” April 21, 2022.

8.  Rodenbeck et al., “Microwave and Millimeter Wave Power Beaming.”

9.  Jaffe, “Practical power beaming gets real.”

10.  Alan Boyle, “PowerLight is hitting its targets with a power beaming system that uses lasers,” GeekWire, March 24, 2021.

11.  Jaffe, “Practical power beaming gets real.”

12.  John C. Mankins, “A Fresh Look at Space Solar Power: New Architectures, Concepts and Technologies,” Acta Astronautica 41, no. 4–10 (August–November 1997).

13.  Office of the Chief Technologist, Brooke Boen, and Mike Green, “After the Challenge: LaserMotive,” NASA, November 25, 2012.

14.  Philip Lubin, “A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight,” Journal of the Interplanetary Society, February 2016, p. 5.

15.  Ana Guzman and Brian Dundar, “What is the Commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Economy?” NASA, May 13, 2022.

16.  Citi GPS’s “Space: The Dawn of a New Age,” Citi, May 2022.

17.  Shane Keaton and Claire Kenyon, “Tiny satellites are changing the way we explore our planet and beyond,” The Conversation, March 25, 2022.

18.  Sandra Erwin, “Orbit Fab gets $12 million to integrate refueling port with military satellites,” SpaceNews, March 17, 2022.

19.  Michael Dello-Iacovo and Serkan Saydam, “Humans have big plans for mining in space – but there are many things holding us back,” The Conversation, May 15, 2022.

20.  Alex Gilbert, “Mining in space is coming,” Milken Institute Review, April 26, 2021.

21.  Hassan Ali, “The New Space Race,” Investments of the Future (blog), January 10, 2021.

22.  Rasha Aridi, “The Moon Has More Water and Ice Hidden All Over Its Surface Than Originally Predicted,” The Smithsonian Magazine, October 27, 2020.

23.  Neel V. Patel, “Here’s how we could mine the moon for rocket fuel,” MIT Technology Review, May 19, 2020.

24.  Stephen Young, “The Meteoric Rise in Satellite Numbers,” Union of Concerned Scientists, March 17, 2022.

25.  Tom Hannen, “Space-based solar power could be deployed in 10 years,” Financial Times, November 24, 2021.

26.  Martina Igni, “Can We Build Solar Power Systems in Space?” Earth.Org, April 3, 2022.

27.  GreenMatch’s “Space-Based Solar Power: The Future Source of Energy?” GreenMatch, July 12, 2022.

28. Frazer Nash Consultancy, “Space based solar power: De-risking the pathway to net zero,” Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy of the UK,
September 27, 2021.

29. Vikram Iyer, Elyas Bayati, Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, Arka Majumdar, and Shyamnath Gollakota, “Charging a Smartphone Across a Room Using Lasers,” Proceedings of
the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies, January 8, 2018.

30.  Jaffe, “Practical power beaming gets real.”

31.  Prakhar Khanna, “This HUAWEI patent can charge devices from a distance without wires,” Pocketnow, September 15, 2020.

32.  Huawei USA, “Charging, Unwired,” YouTube (video), July 31, 2020.

33. “Ericsson and PowerLight demonstrate world’s first wireless powered 5G base station,” Ericsson, October 4, 2021.

34.  Jaffe, “Practical power beaming gets real.”

35.  Yuvrajsinh Rathod and Larry Hughes, “Simulating the charging of electric vehicles by laser,” Procedia Computer Science, 2019.

36. Syed Agha Hassnain Mohsan, Nawaf Qasem Hamood Othman, Muhammad Asghar Khan, Hussain Amjad, and Justyna Žywiołek, “A Comprehensive Review of Micro
UAV Charging Techniques,” Micromachines, June 20, 2022.

37.  Richard Mason, “Feasibility of Laser Power Transmission to a High-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,” Rand, 2011.

38.  Skyler Frink, “Lockheed Martin and LaserMotive use laser to power UAV for 48 hours,” Military and Aerospace Electronics, July 12, 2012.

39.  Mike Ball, “Silent Falcon Selected by DARPA for Laser-Powered UAS Project,” Unmanned Systems Technology, August 7, 2018.

40.  Briana Riley, “DARPA looks to leverage laser-equipped tankers to power drones,” Inside Defense, June 13, 2022.

41. “Laser power beaming fact sheet,” p. 2.

42.  Ericsson’s “Proof that wireless powered base station is a future possibility,” Ericsson.

43. Kristin Brumley, Huyen Nguyen, Erik Alexeff, Nadiah Mukhiar, and Dyah Hening, “Space Solar Power for Disaster Relief,” Online Journal of Space Communication,
October 2021.
 MIT Technology Review Insights 20

Footnotes, continued

44.  Mariella Moon, “Alphabet’s Project Taara is beaming high-speed internet across the Congo River,” TechCrunch, September 16, 2021.

45.  Syed Mohsan et al., “Towards the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): A Comprehensive Review,” Drones, June 15, 2022.

46.  Yuvrajsinh Rathod and Larry Hughes, “Simulating the charging of electric vehicles by laser,” Procedia Computer Science, 2019, p.3.

47.  Kathryn Doyle, “Elon Musk on SpaceX, Tesla, and Why Space Solar Power Must Die,” Popular Mechanics, October 4, 2012.

48.  Jasper Hamill, “Dozens of mobile phone masts attacked over baseless 5G coronavirus conspiracy theories,” HeraldScotland, May 26, 2020.

49.  Alex Hern, “5G conspiracy theories fuel attacks on telecoms workers,” The Guardian, May 7, 2020.

50.  James Temperton, “How the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory tore through the internet,” Wired, June 4, 2020.

51.  World Health Organization’s “Radiation: 5G mobile networks and health,” WHO, February 27, 2020.
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