The Power Mesh

A. C. Applebee and A. D. Masters

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Abstract

This paper proposes a decentralised electrical power distribution system based on resonant magnetic coupling relay chains between household nodes. Each node combines rooftop solar generation, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery storage, resonant coupling coils, solid-state power electronics, and a mesh controller that negotiates load balancing with neighbouring nodes. We demonstrate that the economics of such a system — approximately $2,500 AUD per node at mass production — are favourable compared to traditional grid connection ($5,000-15,000 per lot for new subdivisions) and ongoing grid electricity costs ($1,500-2,000 AUD/year per household). We identify the critical unsolved parameter: per-hop efficiency of multi-kilowatt resonant transfer across 10-20 metre relay chains in real-world conditions. Laboratory demonstrations have achieved >90% efficiency at 2 metres with relay coils (Kurs et al., 2007; Sample et al., 2011) and 20-relay chains at 4 metres (Chen et al., 2024), but no published data exists for the suburban-scale deployment proposed here. We present a complete bill of materials, efficiency sensitivity analysis, economic comparison with grid infrastructure, safety analysis, and a pilot design for a 200-house suburb. The architecture is topologically identical to the BLE mesh communication network described in (Applebee & Combe, 2026, "The Invisible Network"), carrying watts instead of bytes.

Keywords: wireless power transfer, resonant magnetic coupling, relay chain, decentralised energy, mesh network, solar microgrid, LFP battery, cooperative energy

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1. Introduction

1.1 The Wire as Monopoly Infrastructure

Centralised electrical grids follow the same structural pattern as the communication monopolies documented in (Applebee & Combe, 2026, "Platform Gatekeeping") and the AI mono