"EADS Astrium engineers are working on an
orbital solar power concept that they think will
be competitive with other technologies but
safer to use.

Solar power would be collected in space and
beamed to Earth using high-power infrared lasers
so the energy could be used in remote regions,
areas hit by natural disasters and other places
where terrestrial power is not readily available.
Astrium Chief Technical Officer Robert Laine says
the concept offers certain advantages compared to
competing technologies such as microwaves—
notably a much smaller health risk."

See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...e&channel=awst