Overview Energy and Meta Platforms have announced a first-of-its-kind agreement to deliver space-based solar power directly to terrestrial data centers. The partnership is poised to unlock continuous, 24/7 renewable energy from orbit, addressing one of the most pressing constraints in the expansion of AI infrastructure.
The agreement also gives Meta early access to up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of power generated in space. This capacity highlights just how much hyperscalers are continuously securing energy for next-generation computing.
Overview Energy and Meta Pioneer Space-Based Solar Power for Data Centers
How does space-based solar power for data centers on Earth work?
The project centers will put satellites in orbit to capture solar energy. This will be free from atmospheric losses and feature uninterrupted by night cycles. Captured solar energy will then be transmitted wirelessly to Earth-based receiving stations. Ground stations will convert the solar energy into usable electricity for data centers.
Unlike terrestrial solar systems, which are intermittent, space-based solar power enables baseload renewable energy. This could potentially transform how large-scale infrastructure such as data centers are powered.
Meta and Overview Energy plan initial project demonstration for 2028, with commercial operations targeted by 2030.
Space-Based Solar Power for Data Centers: Innovation and Response to Energy Constraints
The agreement comes amid a global surge in AI-driven electricity demand. Data center power consumption is also projected to more than double by 2030, alongside data center construction market that is expected to hit between $445 and $660 billion by 2032.
For companies like Meta, the challenge is not just sourcing clean energy. The challenge also encompasses ensuring continuous, reliable power. Traditional renewables such as wind and solar are intermittent, and often require storage or backup systems. Space solar addresses this gap directly.
Overview Energy’s deal with Meta on space-based solar power for terrestrial data centers also highlights the tech giant’s broader energy strategy – one increasingly being tied to urgency. In the strategy Meta has:
- Secured multi-gigawatt renewable PPAs globally
- Invested in nuclear, geothermal, and long-duration storage
- Expanded hyperscale data center developments across the U.S.
Technology and Innovation
Overview Energy’s system features a convergence of aerospace engineering, energy systems, and wireless power transmission.
Key features include:
- Geosynchronous orbit deployment at about 22,000 miles altitude
- Continuous solar exposure without atmospheric interference
- Wireless energy transmission, most likely microwave or infrared beaming
- Integration with terrestrial grid infrastructure
Additionally, the concept of space solar power dates back decades, but recent advances in launch economics, materials science, and AI-driven optimization have revived its commercial viability.
Project Cost for Meta-Overview Space-Based Solar Power Initiative
Financial terms of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed, yet.
However, the agreement resembles a long-term offtake agreement, similar to power purchase agreements (PPAs). Here, Meta guarantees demand for generated power while Overview Energy secures revenue certainty for the capital-intensive deployment.
Development Timeline
2026 (April) – Agreement announced
2026–2027 – Design, regulatory approvals, early engineering
2028 – Initial orbital demonstration mission
2028–2029 – System validation and scaling
2030 – Commercial power delivery begins
Fact Sheet for Overview Energy-Meta Space Solar Power Initiative
Capacity: Up to 1 GW
Technology: Orbital solar arrays and wireless power transmission
Offtaker: Meta Platforms
Developer: Overview Energy
First Demonstration: 2028
Commercial Operation: 2030
Primary Use: AI data centers
Location for Initial Deployment: United States
Energy Profile: 24/7 renewable baseload
