Scientists Beam Energy Sans Wires Using Microwaves

In a first, scientists have transmitted energy wirelessly which can be replicated in the future to solve Earth's energy problems.

According to UPI, Japanese scientists successfully transmitted 10 kilowatts of power to a receiver 1,640 foot away through microwaves. The demonstration shows that someday it is possible to transmit solar energy from space to Earth. The technology being developed would be part of a bigger project called Space Solar Power Systems (SSPS).

"The SSPS is being developed as a system that will generate power on a geostationary satellite at 36,000 kilometers above the earth using solar cell panels; the generated power will be transmitted to earth by microwave/laser - i.e. without relying on cables - and the power received on the ground will be converted to electrical energy," Mitsubishi Heavy Industries which conducted the demonstration, said in a news release.

The existing technology will have to mature and it could be a few decades before it can be used for transmitting solar energy from space, Discovery News reports. Trapping Sun's energy in space is more effective than trapping it on Earth as space-based solar devices are not constrained by nightfall and the weather on Earth.

"As the power source is environmentally clean and inexhaustible, the SSPS is highly anticipated to become a mainstay energy source that will simultaneously solve both environmental and energy issues," Mitsubishi said.