The American company Star Catcher announced this month that it broke the world record in wireless electricity transmission.
The company transferred 1.1 kilowatts of energy over a distance of more than nine kilometers using a multi-spectrum laser.
This is a significant breakthrough in the global race to develop space-based solar power (SBSP).
Star Catcher conducted the experiment at the Kennedy Space Center of the American space agency (NASA), breaking the previous record of 800 watts over a distance of 8.6 kilometers, set in an experiment by the Department of Defense in June this year.
Star Catcher carried out the new experiment using ordinary commercial solar panels.
The results of the experiment strengthen the investment case that a space energy network (Orbital Power Grid) capable of providing continuous and unlimited electricity can be implemented.
The company’s CEO, Andrew Rush: “The experiments prove that our approach to building a resilient and efficient power grid in space is feasible and mature.”
The company has already signed contracts worth approximately 50 million dollars and plans to demonstrate the system from space next year.
The idea of collecting solar energy in space and transmitting it to Earth is not new it was first proposed by engineer Peter Glaser in 1968.
Its main advantage is the ability to generate solar electricity 24/7 throughout the year, without limitations from weather or the day-night cycle, because panels in space can always be oriented toward the sun.
In recent years, a race has taken place between countries and companies to develop such technology. The British government invested about four million pounds in developing this technology, aiming to supply a third of the country’s energy within 20-30 years.
The Japanese government and the Japanese space agency JAXA have been developing this technology for years and hope to test it in space soon. The European Space Agency ESA aims to establish a large industry, and China is also in the race.
However, the technology developed by Star Catcher, based on using lasers, is considered unique. Many experiments in the field rely on microwave transmission.
Star Catcher focuses initially on a solution that will supply other satellites.
Its system uses panels to collect energy, which it converts and transmits as a laser to the satellites’ existing panels – which could triple their energy output.
The technology uses a concentrated laser (Multi-Spectrum Laser) to transmit the energy.
The problem with producing electricity in space is its astronomical cost.
According to a NASA report from 2024, producing about two gigawatts (similar to the capacity of a large power station) would weigh approximately 10,000 tons it would require about 2,300 launches to place it into orbit and its construction would cost about 280 billion dollars.
However, experience shows that the prices of most technologies drop sharply over time.
NASA estimates that by 2050, the cost of producing and transmitting electricity will fall from about 28,000 dollars per kilogram of the future facility’s weight to about 1,000 dollars per kilogram.
The space electricity race is also motivated by security considerations.
The American Air Force stated that space electricity could supply power to remote military bases, even behind enemy lines, eliminating the need to risk fuel supply convoys.
The technology could also charge military aircraft in flight and provide drones with unlimited range. “Space electricity” could also benefit civilians in disaster-affected areas when conventional electricity infrastructure is damaged.