Start-up company WPC in Kristiansand has developed an efficient technology for wireless transfer of electricity. The solution is currently used in surveillance cameras and offshore equipment, but the capability for transmission of hundreds of watt with up to 95 % efficiency means there are many other areas of application.

WPC’s solution for transfer of high power on small surfaces goes on without the physical connection of wires and this means there are a large number of areas of application.

WPC has its origin in the environment around the NODE cluster in Southern Norway, and now one of the largest companies within this group, National Oilwell Varco, has put the solution to use.

Another product that could be vital in the future for suppliers to the oil and gas industry is the subsea connector developed in cooperation with Ifokus. The subsea connector makes it possible to replace electrical equipment at very great ocean depths. By avoid bringing the ROV to the surface for tool changes, the operational time and cost be heavily reduced.

• When movability is no longer limited by cables or wires, we can have many exciting new products. Movable parts can be rotated around and parts that are under water don’t need to be connected by a plug,” explains engineer Audun Andersen at WPC.

For the consumer, wireless transfer can be a central element in hidden sockets, so that one can for example hang lamps and the TV directly onto the wall or have a laptop charger that is an integrated part of the office desk.

• One of the most exciting ideas is, of course, the charging of electric cars. One could drive over a plate in the garage to charge the car. Or what about replacing the pumps in the petrol station and converting these to future-oriented and environmentally-friendly stations?

At the moment, the technology is approved for the transfer of electricity over short distances, but if transfer over longer distances is not a health risk either, then the areas of application will be even greater.

Tags: WPC