Retail Beamed Power for a Micro Renewable Energy Architecture: Survey

Retail delivery of electric power through millimeter waves is relevant in developing areas where the market for micro devices outpaces the power grid infrastructure. It is also a critical component of an evolutionary path towards terrestrial and space-based renewable power generation. Narrow-band power can be delivered as focused beams to receivers near end-users, from central power plants, rural distribution points, UAVs, stratospheric airship platforms or space satellites. The paper surveys the available knowledge base on millimeter wave beamed power delivery. It then considers design requirements for a retail beamed power architecture, in the context of rural India where power delivery is lagging behind the rapid rise in demand for micro-drives and connectivity.