A US Navy research team managed to blast 1.6 kW of power in the air over a distance of one kilometer. The team takes advantage of the microwaves received by the so-called rectenne. Rekten converts waves into direct current.
Dubbed SCOPE-M (Safe and Continuous Power Beaming – Microwave), the project began a year ago under the leadership of Christopher Rodenbeck. The SCOPE-M has now been tested in two locations, with a peak power of 1.6 kW.
The team uses a frequency of 10 GHz for microwaves. According to Rodenbeck, the technology is mature and cheap enough for this. Also, the power loss in heavy rain is less than five percent.
The system will be completely safe for humans and animals, making it much more useful than methods derived from previous studies, which rely on an automatic shut-off system (if someone approaches the beam).
Rodenbeck sees many possible applications for the SCOPE-M, not just on Earth. According to the researcher, beaming electricity from space will be the ultimate form of green energy. The US Department of Defense is also listening to this; The same concept can be used to power troops in remote areas.
Source: US Naval Research Laboratory
Source: Hardware Info
