Meta Turns to Space for Renewable Energy
As artificial intelligence continues to increase global energy demand, Meta is exploring a bold new solution: generating solar power from space.
The tech company has signed an agreement with Overview Energy to develop a system capable of collecting solar energy in orbit and transmitting it directly to Earth.
The project could transform how renewable energy works by allowing solar farms to produce electricity even after sunset.
Why Meta Needs More Power
Meta’s energy consumption has grown rapidly due to the expansion of its artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers.
In 2024, the company’s facilities consumed more than 18,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity. That amount of power could supply over 1.7 million homes for a year.
To support future AI growth, Meta has committed to building 30 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, mainly through large-scale solar projects.
However, traditional solar power has one major challenge: it stops generating electricity at night.
How the Space-Based System Works
Overview Energy plans to solve this problem by placing up to 1,000 satellites in orbit around Earth.
These satellites would continuously collect solar energy in space, where sunlight is available almost all the time. The captured energy would then be converted into a low-intensity near-infrared beam and directed toward solar farms on Earth.
Specially equipped solar installations would absorb the infrared light and convert it into usable electricity, even in complete darkness.
The idea could help extend renewable energy production beyond daylight hours without depending heavily on batteries or fossil fuel backup systems.
Safer Than Traditional Power-Beaming Concepts
Space-based energy transmission has been discussed for years, but many concepts relied on high-powered lasers or microwave beams that raised safety and regulatory concerns.
Overview Energy says its infrared system avoids many of those risks.
According to the company, the infrared beam is low intensity and designed to be harmless to humans and the environment. Company officials even claim the light would be safe to look at directly.
Early Testing Already Underway
Overview Energy has already completed an early demonstration by transmitting power from an aircraft to the ground.
The company plans to take the next major step in January 2028 with a satellite launch that will test energy transmission from low Earth orbit.
Under the agreement, Meta has reserved the right to receive up to one gigawatt of power from the future satellite network.
Although the financial details remain private, the partnership introduces a new term called “megawatt photons,” which measures the amount of light needed to generate one megawatt of electricity.
A Global Satellite Network by 2030
Overview aims to begin deploying its satellite network around 2030.
The satellites would operate in geosynchronous orbit, allowing each one to remain fixed above a specific region on Earth. This setup would provide continuous energy coverage to selected areas.
The planned network could eventually cover roughly one-third of the planet, including regions stretching from the western United States to Western Europe.
As parts of Earth rotate into darkness, the satellites could continue supplying energy to solar farms, effectively extending daylight for renewable electricity production.
What This Could Mean for the Future
If the technology succeeds on a large scale, it could improve the efficiency of renewable energy systems and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The project could also create a more flexible global energy network, where electricity is delivered where and when it is needed most.
For Meta, the investment highlights a growing reality in the tech industry: powering the future of artificial intelligence may require solutions that once sounded like science fiction.
