Meta's newest astonishing agreement involves transmitting solar energy via satellites even during nighttime.

      Meta has never been accused of thinking small.

      The company behind major social media and messaging platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp is now exploring the possibility of delivering sunlight from space to power its AI data centers after sunset (according to TechCrunch).

      Overview Energy

      What has Meta actually committed to?

      Meta has entered into a capacity reservation agreement with a four-year-old startup in Virginia, known as Overview Energy, to obtain up to one gigawatt of energy generated by a network of geosynchronous satellites located approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth.

      These satellites continuously gather sunlight in space. Under the terms of the agreement, they will send this energy back to Earth as low-intensity near-infrared light, which will then be converted into electricity by Meta’s existing terrestrial solar farms. In essence, the company will harness solar power that remains available even when the sun has set.

      With the increasing demand for AI-driven features and services for consumers and enterprises, Meta’s data centers consumed over 18,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, which is enough to power about 1.7 million American households for a year.

      Meta

      When does Overview anticipate full commercial deployment?

      As the demand continues to grow alongside the popularity of AI workloads, and given that traditional solar panels can only generate electricity during the day unless paired with costly battery storage, Meta is necessitated to obtain power directly from space, where solar energy is plentiful.

      Overview has already scheduled a low Earth orbit satellite demonstration for January 2028, with full commercial deployment expected from geosynchronous orbit around 2030. The company plans to launch a fleet of as many as 1,000 satellites to provide coverage for approximately one-third of the planet, which may attract other energy-intensive customers.

      The concept of transmitting solar energy from space and converting it into electricity is thrilling and could represent one of the most revolutionary technological advancements, potentially aiding in the reduction of our dependence on conventional energy sources while making solar energy more available.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      This highlights the severity of the potential AI energy crisis ahead

      However, it also serves as a warning about the escalating energy demands of AI (potentially leading to a crisis). When the world's largest social media platform and AI entity begins reserving its place for solar energy from satellites that have yet to be launched, it underscores the seriousness of the race to achieve sustainable power for AI.

      The existing grid alone will likely not suffice for all the companies requiring substantial energy. It would not be surprising if more AI firms begin to flock to Overview to secure their positions in the near future.