On the heels of the violent storm system that felled enough overhead wires to disrupt electricity for 4.3 million utility customers on the U.S. East Coast,  new research suggests that the technology for transmitting power without connection to the vulnerable electric grid may be closer at hand than most people think.

“Wireless power” will be making a significant contribution to the energy scene by the end of the decade, says a new report by Pike Research. Short-distance, small-scale, cable-free electricity transmission—for mobile devices, some types of industrial equipment, and electric cars—will be not only more resilient than conventional plug-in charging, but can provide environmental advantages as well, the consultancy says.

This doesn’t mean that wireless power technology has advanced to