The world is going wireless, but we are still learning how to optimize wireless technology for various uses. The folks over at Tweaktown reported about an old idea that is getting new life. New Zealand startup company Emrod is pushing the envelope for power delivery. It has partnered with NZ’s second-largest electricity distribution company Powerco to develop this technology.
In 2019, after 18 months of hard work, the Emrod team had finished creating the first prototype for wirelessly transmitted energy (learn more about our technology here). With it, complete and ready to showcase, selected VIPs within the industry were invited to be the first to see the new technology. Among the attendees was Powerco, the second-largest electricity distributor in New Zealand. Seeing the potential Emrod’s technology held for innovating on their network, a partnership was struck.
Kiwi start-up EMROD has developed the world’s first long-range, high-power, wireless power transmission as an alternative to existing copper line technology. The Emrod technology works by utilizing electromagnetic waves to safely and efficiently transmit energy wirelessly over vast distances. The prototype received some government funding and was designed and built-in Auckland in cooperation with Callaghan Innovation. The company was founded by serial tech entrepreneur Greg Kushnir, who was determined to find a technology that can reduce power distribution costs, avoid outages, and support renewable energy.
How Does It Work?
Emrod uses the ISM frequency band to transmit electromagnetic waves. These are the same frequencies used in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Transmission occurs from a transmitting antenna to a relay, with the final reception at a “rectenna.” Low-power lasers then act as a safety cutoff system in the event an object comes between the transmission points. There is no radiation around the beam.
This idea is not something new, as Nikola Tesla first pioneered it in the late 1800s, but it is one of the first examples of long-distance deployment being done by a private company. Considering the difficulties to develop infrastructure in rural areas, there are many who could benefit from such technology. We have seen impressive results with satellite-based Wi-Fi, too. Once again, the world is going wireless.