Technology Magazine January 2023 | Page 15

Wireless power from space

Munich , Germany

Space-based solar power could be a working reality in the future as shown in a demonstration through the European Space Agency ’ s SOLARIS initiative . In November a demonstration of wireless power transfer took place at Airbus ’ X-Works Innovation Factory in Munich . Using microwave beaming , green energy was transmitted between two points representing ‘ Space ’ and ‘ Earth ’ over a distance of 36 metres . For a working version of a space-based solar power system , the ESA says solar power satellites in geostationary orbit would harvest sunlight on a permanent 24 / 7 basis before converting it into low-power density microwaves to safely beam down to receiver stations on Earth . technologymagazine . com 15