Devices may operate on power “beamed” or “broadcast” from a central station, as long as they remain within line of sight. Buildings may have receivers on the roof to turn beamed power into “wall power.” There may be many beam stations on a civilized ultra-tech planet; a colony may have only a few, or just one. A satellite or spaceship can beam power to ground units in line of sight below it. This means that nobody has to worry about powering vehicles or devices… until something happens to the power station. A power company may send its customers a monthly bill. A customer’s bill is typically 1% of the cost of his power receivers (see below).
Beamed Power (TL9)
These use microwave beams to carry the power. The receiver for beamed power weighs the same as the normal power cell it is replacing, but operates indefinitely as long as it is in line of sight of the transmitter, plus 1/10th as long as the power cell when outside line of sight (it has a stored power backup system). Cost is the same. Usually, only D cells and larger are designed to receive beamed power. Beamed power transmitters are usually 10 times the cost and double the weight of an equivalent power cell per mile or fraction of a mile of range; they power one system at a time.
Solar Power Satellites (TL10): Large solar panels are sometimes placed in geostationary orbit, to capture sunlight before it has been filtered by the atmosphere. They beam power down to receivers on the ground or to other space stations.
Broadcast Power (TL10^)
Broadcast power works like beamed power, but does not require line of sight transmission. Broadcast power receivers are 10 times as expensive as normal power cells, and are available in any size, not just D and up. Broadcast power transmitters are generally double the cost and weight of an equivalent power cell per yard of radius.