Social media and technology giant Meta has inked an agreement with space-based solar power startup Overview Energy to procure power for its U.S. data centres and AI development infrastructure.
Overview Energy plans to launch an initial satellite demonstration in 2028, with commercial power production expected in 2030.
The company intends to deploy satellites into geosynchronous orbit—matching Earth’s rotation speed—to collect solar energy and transmit it to ground-based solar PV plants as low-intensity, near-infrared light, which is then converted into electricity.
The startup claims its system can significantly boost the output of existing solar installations without requiring new land, fuel, or lengthy grid interconnection processes. It adds that the invisible beam is less intense than sunlight and safe for humans, animals, and aircraft.
Nat Sahlstrom, Meta’s vice president of energy and sustainability, stated that space solar technology is a “transformative step forward” by leveraging existing terrestrial infrastructure to deliver uninterrupted energy from orbit. Marc Berte, CEO of Overview Energy, noted that space is becoming part of America’s energy infrastructure, helping hyperscalers secure clean power beyond traditional constraints.
Overview emphasized its technology uses proven, commercially available components and is designed for mass manufacturing. Its board includes former NASA administrators Jim Bridenstine and Mike Griffin, as well as former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) chairman Joseph Kelliher.
The collaboration comes as major U.S. tech firms, known as hyperscalers, increasingly invest in renewable energy to meet the rising power demand of AI and data centres. This year, Amazon and Google have moved from purchasing power to owning renewable energy assets. However, Overview’s technology is yet to be deployed, and solar intermittency is currently addressed by battery energy storage systems (BESS) that have dropped sharply in price.
