The National Grid is investigating whether it could deploy large-scale wireless electricity transmission as part of plans to strengthen the UK’s energy network.
The Wireless Power Transmission project will consider whether ground-based wireless technology can supplement overhead lines and cables or even replace them.
Going wireless has the potential to play a role in moving energy from offshore renewables to the grid onshore, making it easier and cheaper, as well as offering an alternative way to transmit power in natural landscapes where traditional infrastructure can prove controversial for its aesthetic disruption. The project will also assess whether wireless transmission can deliver benefits during emergency responses, such as storms, and help better serve customers in remote areas.
It is being undertaken by National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), which is the regional electricity distribution division for nearly 8 million customers in the Midlands, South West and Wales. The...