Ali Hajimiri: How wireless energy from space could power everything

How wireless energy from space could power everything

Modern life runs on wireless technology. What if the energy powering our devices could also be transmitted without wires? Electrical engineer Ali Hajimiri explains the principles behind wireless energy transfer and shares his far-out vision for launching flexible solar panels into space in order to collect sunlight, convert it to electrical power and then beam it down to Earth. Learn how this technology could power everything -- and light up our world from space.

Wireless energy transfer could reshape how the world is powered by sending electricity through the air, much like data travels today. Using synchronized arrays of small antennas, energy can be focused and targeted with precision—enough to power a moving light bulb, a battery-less drone, or even entire communities. Flexible solar panel satellites could someday orbit Earth, harvesting sunlight eight times more efficiently than ground panels and delivering clean power anywhere, even to disaster zones. By turning science fiction into reality, this vision promises to democratize access to energy on a global scale.