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Wireless Electricity Set to Power Village

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the keep-it-away-from-your-boy-parts dept.

freedommatters writes "The UK Sunday Times has a story today about how "Scientists have successfully applied the technology used in microwave ovens to beam electricity without the need for unsightly pylons and overhead cables." A prototype has illuminated a handful of light bulbs and they expect to be able to power a remote village within three years."

2 of 373 comments (clear)

  1. Times? by shibbydude · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Why can I never read the stories on slashdot unless I sign up for a service I would otherwise never use? On top of that, once they have your email address, they probably send some spam. Mmm... Spam...

    --
    We're only gonna die from our own arrogance, that's why we might as well take our time...
  2. A few minor problems by Veteran · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The microwave beams from military radar on ships regularly cause sea gulls to explode. A megawatt beam will do in a bird pretty quickly. Power generation plants put out 100's of megawatts.

    Microwave ovens work by heating water molecules. Broadcasting anything that heats water has a very high loss rate when it is humid. This is the reason satellite TV can die when it rains.

    One possible use is in the desert to an isolated community. Perhaps it would also be possible to beam electricity to people on a mountain top. Very limited use technology.

    Then there was Tesla's problem when he proposed to beam power to people 100 years ago: how do you get people to pay for the power they use?