In a quite remarkable leap towards the future of energy, Aquila, an Australian/New Zealand deep-tech startup, is pioneering the shift to wireless power, eliminating the need for power pylons and massive transmission networks. At the helm are the company's young visionaries, 24-year-old Billy Jeremijenko and former Rocket Lab engineer Nelson Smith (shown left), who are not just re-imagining but actively reinventing how energy is distributed and utilised globally.
Aquila's groundbreaking product, Lightway Sentry, uses photonics technology, light beams transmitted from a ground-based system to a solar cell on a drone, to charge it mid-flight. This innovation not only promises to keep drones airborne indefinitely but also paves the way for localised power distribution, where energy can be transmitted over distances without the traditional infrastructure.
Source: PFN Ai copyright depiction of the photonic energy recharge and transport system at work
Imagine a world where cities, remote communities, and even individual devices could receive power as easily as data flows across the internet. Aquila calls this vision the "internet of energy," a futuristic network where energy availability is as ubiquitous and straightforward as connecting to WiFi.
This transformative technology has already demonstrated its potential in early testing, where Aquila successfully charged drones at distances over ten times greater than previous attempts, reaching up to 50 meters. The broader implications of this technology extend to electric aircraft and satellites, hinting at a clean, efficient future free from the constraints of current energy systems.
Attracting interest from significant global players like the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Aquila is not just dreaming about the future—they are building it. Their recent $2 million in follow-on funding, supported by the Alua Group along with initial investors Blackbird and Icehouse, underscores the confidence in their vision and the feasibility of their technology, following a successful $3 million seed round the previous year.
Source: PFN Ai depiction of a Lightway Drone device being recharged from a 'photonic energy portal'
As Aquila gears up for the commercial release of Lightway Sentry, the world watches eagerly, ready for a future where energy is not just consumed but shared freely across the globe, safe, sustainable, and utterly transformative.
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