Study into potential for wireless power transmission on UK grid launched

The initiative, funded through Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) and managed in partnership with Innovate UK, will explore whether ground‑based wireless technology can supplement – or in some circumstances replace – conventional overhead lines and underground cables. Partners say the work will examine potential benefits for resilience, speed of connection and service to remote communities.

The project will assess whether wireless “beaming” can provide temporary or emergency power during storms or other network disruptions, and whether it could create faster, more flexible connections for renewable generators, including those offshore. Proponents argue that faster integration of renewables and reduced curtailment could cut system costs such as constraint payments and shorten connection times from years to months.


The work responds to wider pressures on the distribution system. The UK government and industry forecasts anticipate significant increases in electricity demand through to 2050 – a rise that will require a large expansion of renewable generation and accompanying network capacity. NGED said conventional overhead lines and underground cables will continue to be required, but that innovation is needed to help engineers plan how the distribution network might evolve.

Ofgem and Innovate UK established an Energy Networks Innovation Taskforce last autumn to co‑ordinate senior leaders from across the sector and identify priorities for the SIF. NGED president Cordi O’Hara was among those involved in forming the taskforce.

Wireless power transmission is an established concept in laboratory and niche applications, but scaling it to carry multi‑megawatt flows across distances on a distribution network presents technical, regulatory and economic challenges. Key questions for the project will include efficiency losses over distance, interference and safety standards, cost relative to conventional infrastructure, and how wireless links would integrate with existing grid control and protection systems.

The NGED–Space Solar project is intended as an early‑stage investigation rather than an immediate deployment plan. Results from the pilot work are expected to inform whether further development, trials or regulatory changes are warranted.

Tim Polack, NGED director of strategy and transformation, said: “Innovative thinking is fundamental to supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future, and the Wireless Power Transmission project will explore how state-of-the-art technology could transform the electricity network to deliver resilience, cost and connection benefits to customers.”

Sam Adlen, co-CEO of Space Solar, said: “We are delighted to be able to work with National Grid to explore the opportunities for wireless power transmission. We have all seen the revolution that wireless technology enabled with communications. As energy demand accelerates, advances in wireless power transmission offer great potential to support our growing electricity infrastructure needs.”

Like what you’ve read? To receive New Civil Engineer’s daily and weekly newsletters click here.