Wireless power beaming using high-energy lasers (Directed Energy Power Transfer) is an emerging technology that enables the transmission of electrical energy over long distances without the need for physical cables. The concept is based on converting electrical power into a highly focused laser beam, transmitting it through free space, and reconverting the optical energy back into electricity at the receiving end using photovoltaic or thermophotovoltaic systems.

In recent years, laser-based power transmission has gained increasing attention in aerospace, defense, industrial automation and space technology. Compared to conventional wired power systems, laser power beaming offers major advantages in mobility, flexibility and accessibility. It enables energy delivery to remote, mobile or difficult-to-reach systems where traditional infrastructure is impractical or impossible.

The basic architecture of a laser power beaming system consists of three core components: a high-efficiency electrical power source, a high-energy laser transmitter and an optical receiver. Fiber lasers are commonly used due to their excellent beam quality, high electrical efficiency and scalability. The laser beam is precisely directed toward a photovoltaic receiver optimized for the laser wavelength. The receiver converts the optical radiation back into usable electrical energy.

One of the key advantages of laser-based wireless power transmission is the ability to transfer energy over several kilometers with minimal beam divergence. High-energy lasers can maintain a concentrated energy density even at large distances, allowing compact receiver systems with relatively high power output. In addition, laser beams can be dynamically redirected, enabling simultaneous support for moving platforms such as drones, autonomous vehicles, satellites or airborne sensor systems.

The potential applications are wide-ranging. In the defense sector, wireless laser power systems can extend the operational endurance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remote surveillance systems. In space applications, laser power beaming could provide energy transfer between satellites or from orbital solar stations to ground-based infrastructures. Industrial applications include powering robotic systems, autonomous inspection platforms and isolated sensor networks without physical connectors or batteries.

Wireless power beaming with high-energy lasers is a transformative technology with the potential to reshape future energy distribution systems. As laser and photonic technologies continue to evolve, wireless optical power transmission may become a critical enabling technology for next-generation aerospace, industrial and autonomous systems.

FiberBridge Photonics CBC high-energy laser systems provide a solution for these high-intensity applications. CBC systems coherently combine multiple laser channels into a single high-brightness output beam without compromising beam quality. This allows the laser power to be scaled far beyond 100 kW while still maintaining excellent beam quality.