Power from Space: Coordinated Satellite Charging for Off-Grid Wireless Systems

Abstract

Satellite-enabled wireless power transfer (WPT) may be a transformative solution for charging Internet of Things (IoT) devices in off-grid scenarios where traditional technologies struggle to efficiently meet urgent energy demands. In this article, we review the advantages and limitations of microwave-based long-distance charging for satellite-enabled WPT. We then introduce our vision of coordinated space-based WPT, where multiple satellites jointly serve networks of ground devices. Potential use cases are presented highlighting application requirements. We evaluate the average received power at the target locations using two coordination schemes and perform a statistical characterization of the power spillover on undesired locations. We also shed light on the performance of inter-satellite laser WPT for different operating distances and transmit-receive apertures of the peer satellites. Moreover, we explore the integration of metasurfaces on satellite apertures and ground networks to boost energy conversion efficiency, scalability, and beam management. Finally, we outline relevant challenges and research directions towards implementing our vision.