DARPA Sets New Record for Wireless Power Beaming

Published on July 14, 2025

DARPA's POWER program has set a new record in wireless energy transmission, successfully delivering over 800 watts of power across 8.6 kilometers using an infrared laser beam—far surpassing previous records. The breakthrough concludes the first phase of the project, which prioritized rapid development over efficiency, using off-the-shelf solar cells and achieving roughly 20% receiver efficiency. This test highlights the advantages of laser-based power beaming—such as precision, long-range focus, and compact equipment—over traditional radio or microwave systems. Unexpected insights during development, like the effectiveness of diffractive and additively manufactured optics, have opened up new possibilities for future applications in airborne power relays and beyond.

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