THE technology to enable long-range wireless electricity transmission has recently been developed and demonstrated in New Zealand and is now ready for utility-scale systems. The long-range wireless power transmission technology, also known as tele-energy technology, consists of transmission antennas, a series of relays, and rectifying antennas, utilising the radar technology and advancements in materials, called the meta-material technology.

It transmits energy through electromagnetic waves over long distances, beamed directly between two points joined with line-of-sight relays. The rectifying antennas are capable of converting microwave energy into electricity, and transmitting it over many kilometres; possibly up to 30km.

The technology is safe, reliable and cost-effective, with maximum efficiency and minimal losses. There is significantly lower infrastructure required, and the maintenance costs are low. Weather conditions, such as rain, fog or dust, have negligible impact on the system.

Tele-energy wireless electricity transmission will not replace the conventional infrastructure, but will augment it. As per plans, it will be applied for the transmission of renewable energy, like solar and wind power, and aims at taking electricity to remote areas and to the regions of rough terrain.

The successful commercialisation of wireless electricity transmission will revolutionise and transform the power sector globally. It will realise the dream of inventor Nikola Tesla who had conceived and experimented with the idea in 1891, believing that it “could light up New York city by transmitting millions of volts of electricity through the air”.

Hussain Siddiqui
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2021