Key Highlights:

• Meta signs agreement with Overview Energy to beam solar power from space at night.
• Startup plans fleet of about 1,000 satellites to transmit infrared light to solar farms.
• Meta reserves capacity for up to 1 gigawatt of nighttime electricity from orbit.
• First satellite demonstration mission expected in 2028, deployments targeted for 2030.

Meta has signed a new agreement with Overview Energy to receive solar electricity beamed from space at night. The deal could allow Meta to power energy-hungry AI data centers using infrared light transmitted from satellites to solar farms on Earth.

The move signals how fast energy demand is rising in the AI era. It also shows how companies are exploring unconventional renewable power solutions beyond batteries and grid storage.

Why is Meta exploring solar power from space?

Meta’s data centers consumed more than 18,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2024. That amount roughly equals the yearly power use of more than 1.7 million homes in the United States.

Demand is expected to grow further as AI infrastructure expands. As a result, Meta has already committed to building 30 gigawatts of renewable power capacity, largely through large-scale solar installations.

However, solar energy stops when the sun sets. That creates a major challenge for data centers that must operate continuously.

Instead of relying only on batteries or backup generation, Meta is now testing whether satellites can extend solar production into nighttime hours.

How would space solar power reach Meta’s data centers?

Overview Energy is developing spacecraft that collect sunlight in orbit. The satellites convert that energy into near-infrared light and beam it toward large solar farms on Earth. Those solar facilities then convert the incoming infrared light back into electricity.

Unlike earlier space-power concepts that relied on high-energy microwave or laser transmission, Overview’s system uses a wider infrared beam. According to the company, the beam is designed to avoid major safety and regulatory concerns.

The approach also allows existing ground solar infrastructure to be reused instead of building entirely new receiving stations. Overview says it has already demonstrated airborne power transmission to the ground. The company now plans to test orbital transmission with a satellite launch scheduled for January 2028.

What exactly did Meta sign with Overview Energy?

Meta signed what Overview describes as its first capacity reservation agreement. Under the deal, Meta could receive up to one gigawatt of electricity generated from space-based solar systems. The companies did not disclose whether the agreement includes upfront payments.

Overview also introduced a new measurement term for the contract called “megawatt photons.” The unit describes the amount of transmitted light required to produce one megawatt of electricity on Earth. If deployed at scale, the system could increase solar farm output after sunset without expanding land use.

When could Meta start receiving energy from orbit?

Overview expects to begin launching operational satellites around 2030. The company’s long-term plan includes deploying roughly 1,000 spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit. Satellites in this orbit remain positioned above the same area of Earth. That allows them to deliver continuous energy to fixed solar installations.

Each spacecraft is designed to operate for more than 10 years. Together, the planned fleet could cover about one-third of the planet. Initial coverage is expected to stretch from the western United States to western Europe. As Earth rotates, satellites would redirect beams to solar farms entering nighttime conditions. This would help maintain steady electricity output even after sunset.

Could space solar change how renewable energy works?

Traditional solar farms generate electricity only during daylight hours. That limits their reliability for continuous industrial use. Overview’s system aims to extend solar production beyond daytime cycles. If successful, the approach could reduce dependence on fossil fuels used for nighttime backup generation.

It could also improve the return on investment for large solar infrastructure projects by increasing utilization rates. The company is positioning its satellites not just as power generators but also as energy transmitters capable of shifting supply across regions. That flexibility could allow energy delivery where demand is highest at a given time.

Why space energy is becoming part of the AI infrastructure race

AI systems require massive computing power. That computing power depends on stable electricity supplies. Technology companies are now competing not only in model development but also in securing long-term energy access.

Space-based solar power represents one of several emerging approaches being explored alongside nuclear partnerships, grid expansion, and advanced battery storage. If Overview’s satellite network launches as planned, it could mark one of the first commercial attempts to deliver renewable electricity from orbit to terrestrial infrastructure.

For now, the agreement shows how Meta is experimenting with new energy pathways as it prepares for a future shaped by continuous AI workloads.