Meta's newest astonishing project involves transmitting solar power via satellites, even during nighttime.

      Among the various accusations directed at Meta, the notion of thinking small has never been one of them.

      The firm, which owns leading social media and messaging platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, is now exploring the possibility of transmitting sunlight from space to power its AI data centers after dark (as reported by TechCrunch).

      **Overview Energy**

      What has Meta actually committed to?

      Meta has entered a capacity reservation agreement with a four-year-old Virginia-based startup, Overview Energy, to receive up to one gigawatt of power produced by a fleet of geosynchronous satellites, positioned approximately 22,000 miles above Earth.

      These satellites continuously gather sunlight in space. Under the agreement, they will relay it back to Earth as low-intensity near-infrared light, which Meta’s existing solar farms will then convert into electricity. Essentially, this means the company will have access to solar power that remains available even at night.

      As the demand for AI-driven features and services for consumers and businesses continues to grow, Meta's data centers consumed over 18,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, enough to power around 1.7 million American homes for an entire year.

      **Meta**

      When does Overview anticipate full commercial rollout?

      With ongoing growth in AI workloads and the limitation of traditional solar panels to daytime electricity production (unless combined with extensive and costly battery storage), Meta is driven to harness power directly from space, where solar energy is abundant.

      Overview has scheduled a low Earth orbit satellite demonstration for January 2028, with expectations for full commercial deployment from geosynchronous orbit by around 2030. The company aims to deploy a fleet of up to 1,000 satellites to cover about one-third of the planet, potentially attracting other energy-intensive clients.

      To me, the idea of transmitting solar power from space and converting it into electricity is thrilling and could represent one of the most groundbreaking technological advancements, potentially helping to reduce our dependence on traditional energy sources and enhancing access to solar energy.

      **Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends**

      This indicates the potential severity of the AI energy crisis in the coming years.

      However, it also serves as a warning about the trajectory of AI energy demands, which could lead to a possible crisis. When the largest social media platform (and AI company) starts reserving slots to obtain solar energy from satellites that are not yet built, it underscores the urgency of the race to power AI sustainably.

      The existing power grid alone will undoubtedly be insufficient for all companies that require immense amounts of energy. It wouldn't be surprising if other AI firms quickly pursue similar agreements with Overview to secure their positions soon.