The new class of diode pumped alkali vapor lasers (DPALs) offers high efficiency cw laser beams at wavelengths which efficiently couple to photovoltaic (PV) cells: silicon cells at 895 nm (cesium), and GaAs cells at 795 nm (rubidium) and at 770 nm (potassium). DPAL electrical efficiencies of 25–30&percent; are projected, enabling PV cell efficiencies ∼40&percent; (Si) and ∼60&percent; (GaAs). Near‐diffraction‐limited DPAL device power scaling into the multi‐kilowatt regime from a single aperture is projected. The potential application to power beaming propulsion to raise satellites from LEO to Geo is discussed. © 2004 American Institute of Physics