Durham joins £5.3m project to develop laser power technology
Researchers in the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation, based at Orbit in NETPark, are helping to develop a pioneering laser power system that could keep high-altitude aircraft operating continuously.
The project has received £5.3m in funding from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) through its Enduring Atmospheric Platforms (EndAP) programme.
Working alongside Scalable Laser Limited and the University of Glasgow our researchers will help to develop “LIVINGSTON” (which stands for laser diodes and photo-voltaics for enduring atmospheric platform power beaming), an innovative laser power beaming system.
Power delivered by light
Laser power beaming replaces traditional power lines with a laser beam.
Electricity is converted into laser light and transmitted through the atmosphere. A receiver then converts the light back into electricity.
The technology could provide continuous power to aircraft , such as drones and aeroplanes operating high in the stratosphere, removing the need for frequent landings and refuelling.
