Scientists Beam Electricity Wirelessly Over Five Miles — A New Era of Laser Power Transmission

Scientists achieved a world-first by transmitting 800 watts of power wirelessly over 5.3 miles using a laser beam. Learn how this breakthrough in optical power beaming could revolutionize energy delivery and the future of wireless electricity.

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In a groundbreaking demonstration, U.S. scientists successfully beamed nearly 800 watts of electricity wirelessly across 5.3 miles using a powerful laser. This record-setting achievement could redefine how we deliver power to remote, dangerous, or inaccessible places — and maybe one day, even from space.


Scientists Beam Electricity Wirelessly Over Five Miles — A New Era of Laser Power Transmission

In a historic breakthrough, U.S. scientists have successfully transmitted electricity wirelessly across 5.3 miles (8.5 km) using a powerful laser beam — marking a major step toward a future where energy can be delivered without wires, fuel trucks, or physical infrastructure.

This experiment, conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, showcased how optical power beaming could transform how we send and receive energy in remote or hazardous environments.

The Experiment That Made History

For the first time ever, researchers delivered nearly 800 watts of electrical power over five miles using a precisely targeted laser beam. The beam was converted back into usable electricity at the destination with a specialized receiver system.

The energy was transmitted in a 30-second burst, but the implications are massive. The demonstration not only broke previous records for both distance and power but also proved that laser-based energy transfer can work efficiently even through dusty, turbulent air near the ground — one of the most difficult transmission environments imaginable.

What Is Optical Power Beaming?

Optical power beaming works by converting electricity into a highly focused laser, which travels through the atmosphere to a receiving station.

At the receiver, a parabolic mirror focuses the incoming light onto an array of high-efficiency photovoltaic cells (similar to solar panels). These cells convert the laser’s light back into electrical energy.

The entire process turns a beam of light into a literal power line through air, capable of transmitting electricity without cables or conventional infrastructure.

Why This Matters: A Revolution in Energy Delivery

Electricity drives everything from communication networks to clean water systems. Yet, getting power to remote locations — disaster zones, mountain research stations, military outposts, or deep-sea installations — remains one of the biggest logistical challenges of our time.

Fuel convoys and power cables are costly, dangerous, and slow to deploy. But laser-based power transmission could change that. With a portable setup, energy could be delivered on demand to areas unreachable by traditional means.

This technology could support:

Emergency relief efforts, where speed matters most
Military bases, reducing risky fuel transport missions
Remote scientific stations powered without generators
Drones and aircraft that recharge mid-flight
Space applications, where solar energy from orbit could beam power to Earth

In short, this breakthrough opens the door to a world where electricity flows like Wi-Fi — fast, flexible, and contact-free.

Inside the Breakthrough: The Power Receiver Array Demo (PRAD)

At the heart of the experiment is a new device called the Power Receiver Array Demo (PRAD).

Developed in only three months, the PRAD receiver uses a modular and scalable design. It routes the incoming laser beam to dozens of photovoltaic cells arranged inside a parabolic dish, ensuring the energy load is evenly distributed.

The result? Minimal energy loss, high conversion efficiency, and a system that can scale up for much larger applications — potentially even vehicles, aircraft, or forward operating bases in the future.

Overcoming Atmospheric Challenges

One of the biggest hurdles in wireless power transmission is the atmosphere itself.

Airborne dust, humidity, and temperature variations can scatter or absorb laser light, reducing its efficiency. The team deliberately conducted this test near the ground — where the air is thickest and dustiest — to prove that their technology can handle the toughest conditions.

By achieving stable power transfer over five miles through such an environment, the scientists demonstrated that optical power beaming isn’t just a laboratory novelty — it’s a real-world technology.

Efficiency and Safety Considerations

No new technology comes without challenges, and laser power beaming is no exception.

The current system operates at around 20% efficiency at shorter ranges. That means four-fifths of the initial energy is lost during transmission — though engineers expect this to improve with optimized wavelengths, better materials, and adaptive optics to counter air turbulence.

Safety is another key focus. A high-powered laser beam can pose risks to people, animals, and aircraft if not properly controlled.

To ensure safety, the system includes:

Automatic shutters and sensors that shut the beam off if anything crosses its path
Geofencing systems to prevent unintended exposure
Precision tracking to keep the beam locked on target

These measures make long-range laser power transmission safe for practical use in populated areas or shared airspace.

The Bigger Picture: Complementing the Power Grid, Not Replacing It

Some might imagine this means the end of power lines — but experts caution otherwise.

Optical power beaming isn’t designed to replace the electric grid. Instead, it’s meant to complement existing infrastructure, providing flexible, temporary, or emergency energy links where wires can’t reach.

Imagine this scenario:

A hurricane wipes out local power lines. Within hours, an airborne platform establishes a laser energy link to power emergency shelters and communication hubs until the grid is repaired.
A drone equipped with a receiver could hover for days, recharging continuously via a power beam.
Remote villages, mining sites, or ocean research stations could be powered without transporting tons of fuel or laying expensive cables.

These are not distant dreams — they’re now engineering possibilities.

From Earth to Space: The Future of Wireless Power

The next phase of research will focus on relay systems — devices that can catch a laser beam and pass it on, forming a “chain” of power links across large distances.

If successful, these relays could extend the range indefinitely, even enabling space-to-Earth power transmission from orbiting satellites.

Space-based solar power — once considered science fiction — could become reality, sending clean energy from space to any point on Earth, 24/7.

Challenges Ahead

While the five-mile test marks a huge leap forward, challenges remain before this technology becomes mainstream:

Improving efficiency beyond 20%
Scaling up power output for industrial use
Ensuring reliability during adverse weather conditions
Developing affordable, mass-producible receivers

Still, the foundation has been laid. The pieces — from powerful solid-state lasers to advanced solar cells — already exist. What remains is refining, integrating, and scaling the system.

A Glimpse of the Wireless Future

Just as wireless communication transformed how we share information, wireless electricity may soon redefine how we share power.

The success of this five-mile laser transmission is more than a scientific milestone — it’s a vision of what’s possible when human innovation meets practical need.

From disaster zones to drones, from deserts to outer space, power could one day travel effortlessly through the air — safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

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