China Beams Power 100 Meters to Moving Targets Wirelessly

Imagine a future where satellites beam unlimited clean energy down from space, 24 hours a day, with no cloudy skies to worry about. That future just got a major boost from a team of Chinese scientists who've cracked one of the biggest challenges in wireless power transmission.

Researchers led by Professor Duan Baoyan at Xidian University successfully transmitted 1,180 watts of power across more than 100 meters to multiple moving targets at once. Think of it like charging your phone wirelessly, except the charger is 100 meters away and your phone is flying through the air at 30 kilometers per hour.

The breakthrough addresses a real problem in space right now. Most small satellites can only generate power for about 60 minutes of their 96-minute orbit around Earth. The rest of the time, they're stuck in Earth's shadow, draining their batteries with no way to recharge.

Duan's team has been working on this challenge since 2014 with their OMEGA design, which uses spherical principles to concentrate sunlight. Their latest version, Distributed OMEGA, works like building blocks that can be assembled or replaced in orbit, making it practical to maintain massive power grids in space.

The numbers tell an impressive story. The system achieved 20.8 percent efficiency in converting electricity to microwaves and back to electricity, up from 15.05 percent in 2022. The microwave beam stayed locked on target with 88 percent accuracy, even when targets were moving.

In one test, a drone flying 30 kilometers per hour received a stable 143 watts of power from 30 meters away. That precision tracking capability is essential for powering satellites and space stations that are constantly moving relative to each other.

The technology works by converting electricity into microwaves, beaming them across distances, then converting them back into usable power on the receiving end. In space, where running physical cables is impossible, this wireless approach opens up entirely new possibilities.

The Ripple Effect

This breakthrough arrives as China's latest five-year plan emphasizes using space resources more effectively. The team plans to test the technology in low-Earth orbit during the current plan period, then conduct a megawatt-scale test around 2030.

Their ultimate vision? A commercial gigawatt-scale solar power station in space by 2050 that beams clean energy directly to Earth. Unlike ground-based solar panels that only work during daylight, space-based systems could collect sunlight continuously, free from clouds, weather, and the day-night cycle.

The applications extend beyond powering Earth. Satellites could recharge in orbit instead of relying entirely on their own solar panels and batteries. Space stations could tap into orbital charging networks. Future missions to the Moon or Mars could use similar technology to transmit power across lunar or planetary surfaces.

An expert panel from the Shaanxi Provincial Technology Transfer Center evaluated the results and concluded they represent world-leading performance with broad prospects for real-world engineering applications. The modular design means components can be mass-produced and assembled in space like interlocking pieces.

By 2050, clean energy beamed from space could help power cities, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and provide electricity to remote areas where traditional infrastructure is difficult to build.