An article published earlier this year alludes to a bright future for wireless energy transfer, but only touches on the potential for using it as a renewable, green energy source. However, the many limitations associated with successfully providing energy wirelessly have hindered its progress. The main drawback of wireless energy transfer has been energy loss - the fact that only 45%-80% of energy is actually transferred (The Future of Wireless Energy Transfer, 02 Mar 2010).
Wireless Charging and the Green Energy Revolution
It has been recently reported however, that a study carried out at Duke University has found that the use of certain types of materials - known as 'metamaterials' - could mean that future wireless energy transfers are carried out a lot more efficiently (Innovation News Daily, 02 Jun 2011). Without going into the technical details, metamaterials could increase the range and efficiency wireless charging devices such as the Powermat meaning that devices are charged more quickly and with much less waste, which would add much weight to the green energy revolution.
This could mean not just a more efficient home, but also a more efficient commute to work. Late last year WiTricity, a company specialising in wireless energy transfer, teamed up with American vehicle components supplier Delphi to develop a wireless means of charging an electric car where drivers could simply park their electric car on a specialist wireless pad in their garage or in a parking spot which charges their car battery automatically ( Clean Green Cars, 22 October 2010). This innovation would have the dual effect of both increasing the efficiency of motor vehicle charging and of increasing consumer acceptance of such vehicles.
In these cases, the next logical step would be to develop a dynamic charging system whereby electric cars could charge while on the move allowing people to drive much longer distances without having to stop. HaloIPT, a company dedicated to developing wireless charging systems have developed just such a system (Wireless Power Planet, 08 June 2011). And to scale down the concept, this could be applied to individual mobile devices where one could maintain near-full charge on one's iPhone while moving from place to place via the use of wireless charging hotspots (in much the same way we use wifi hotspots today).
Wireless Energy As Needed
Wireless energy company Witricity's wireless charging system has promised to be much more efficient and less wasteful when used on devices. There are two reasons for this. First, Witricity have noted that the system only turns on as and when it is required. This would be a useful attribute when dealing with the wireless car charging system above - the last thing one wants is an out-of-use electrified highway. Second, while charging one device, the system can use any excess power to charge other devices so very little energy is lost.
But is this convincing? It's certainly promising. And the environmental and cost benefits of wireless energy transfer stretch far beyond power-as-needed and multiple device charging. Eric Giler, CEO of Witricity, has pointed out that wireless energy could eliminate the need for batteries. He noted that the Witricity system uses energy from the grid at a cost of approximately £0.05 per kiloWatt whereas batteries are used at a cost of approximately £300 per kiloWatt (eWeek Europe, July 27 2009). And this is not to mention the environmental costs of disposing batteries.
Also, if wireless energy were adopted in whole or in part, the use of it would greatly cut the cost to the environment of plastics and rubber used in the production of electrical wires, a lot of which cannot be recycled.
These benefits, coupled with the efficiency finding at Duke University could well spell the beginning of an environmental revolution.
Sources
- eWeek Europe, 'The Green Benefits of Wireless Power', July 27 2009
- Wireless Power Planet, 'Exclusive interview with Halo IPT', 08 June 2011
- Clean Green Cars, 'Wireless Electric Vehicle Recharging Under Development', 22 October 2010
- Innovation News Daily, 'New Composites could Revolutionize Wireless Power', 02 Jun 2011
- The Future of Wireless Energy Transfer, 02 Mar 2010
Isham Jassat - Isham Jassat is relatively new to freelance writing and is looking to make his mark. Currently unemployed and struggling to make ends ...
