Meta has taken a significant step in its clean energy strategy by partnering with Overview Energy to reserve up to 1 GW of space-based solar power. The capacity is specifically earmarked to meet the growing electricity demands of Meta's AI data centers.
Continuous Power from Geosynchronous Orbit
Overview Energy's technology involves satellites positioned in geosynchronous orbit. These satellites capture sunlight and convert it into low-intensity near-infrared light, which is then transmitted wirelessly to ground stations. The ground stations convert the light back into electricity, feeding it into the local grid. Because the satellites remain in a fixed position relative to Earth, the system can generate power 24 hours a day, overcoming the intermittency issues of terrestrial solar power. Meta aims to secure reliable, carbon-free baseload electricity for its global AI training and inference operations.
Ultra-Long Duration Storage: 100 Hours Plus
In parallel, Meta has partnered with Noon Energy to develop a 1 GW / 100 GWh ultra-long-duration energy storage solution. The technology uses reversible solid oxide fuel cells combined with carbon-based storage media, capable of storing electricity for more than 100 hours. A pilot project of 25 MW / 2.5 GWh is expected to be operational by 2028. This storage will help smooth out any fluctuations in space-based solar generation and provide backup for critical data center loads.
Expanding Clean Energy Footprint
Meta has already secured over 30 GW of clean energy through various contracts, including wind, terrestrial solar, and geothermal. The space-based solar initiative is still in its infancy; commercial power delivery is anticipated around 2030 if the technology proves viable. Industry observers note that as AI data center energy consumption grows exponentially, space-based solar offers a promising solution with high capacity factor and zero geographic constraints, despite its current high cost. Meta’s bold bet could pave the way for a new era of extraterrestrial energy supply for tech giants.