Imagine a future where energy doesn’t need wires, fuel trucks, or even solar panels on the ground — just precision lasers and high-altitude drones. That future came a step closer on May 16, 2025, when DARPA shattered the world record for laser power beaming, successfully transmitting over 800 watts of optical power across 8.6 kilometers using their new POWER Receiver Array Demo (PRAD).
This isn’t science fiction. It’s a bold leap toward an airborne “Energy Internet” — and it might change how we think about power delivery forever.
What Happened?
In the deserts of New Mexico, DARPA’s Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program achieved a milestone: using a laser, it sent 800+ watts of power from one ground station to another over a record-setting distance. Previous attempts maxed out at only 230 W over 1.7 km. This test broke both the power and distance records simultaneously.
The tech at the center of the breakthrough is a compact, ultra-precise receiver system developed by Teravec Technologies, with help from Packet Digital and the Rochester Institute of Technology. The system funnels laser light into a parabolic mirror and down onto custom photovoltaic cells that convert it into usable electricity — even in the thick, turbulent lower atmosphere.
Why It Matters
This demonstration isn’t just about distance or raw power — it’s about possibility.
- Remote power delivery: Send energy to disaster zones, remote sensors, or front-line military units with no fuel trucks required.
- Endless flight for drones: High-altitude relays could beam power to UAVs, keeping them in the sky for days or weeks.
- Space-to-Earth energy: The long-term vision includes harvesting solar energy in space and relaying it to Earth using orbital and atmospheric lasers.
DARPA program manager Dr. Paul Jaffe summed it up: “We obliterated all previously reported demonstrations. This is a game-changer.”
What’s Next? Airborne Relays and 200 km Range
DARPA is now heading into Phase 2 of the POWER program. That means:
- Integrating aerial relay platforms (like drones or high-altitude balloons).
- Testing relay-to-target energy transmission — sending 3 kW through a drone and down to a ground receiver.
- Preparing for Phase 3: delivering 5 kilowatts across 200 kilometers via a chain of three airborne optical relays flying at ~60,000 feet.
These steps bring us closer to a mobile, scalable, wireless energy network — like Starlink for power.
The Big Picture
DARPA’s new power beaming record isn’t just an experiment. It’s a foundation for a new era in global energy logistics. From military applications to disaster relief to space-based solar farms, the potential is vast.
And with lasers and drones doing the heavy lifting, the days of limited access to clean, flexible power might soon be behind us.
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