Space-Based Solar Power Could Reach the Grid by 2028

The advent of artificial intelligence is driving advancements in space-based solar power technology. As demand for energy surges, fueled by data centers, both public and private entities are exploring various energy options, including novel solutions like installing solar panels in orbit. The rationale behind this concept is that solar panels in space receive sunlight continuously, eliminating the intermittency issue that plagues traditional solar energy.

Solar energy captured in space would be transmitted back to Earth using lasers or microwave beams. Although space-based solar power is not a new idea, recent interest and investments from the tech sector may propel it closer to reality. Virginia's Overview Energy, a startup based in a state grappling with high energy costs due to data center expansion, believes they could begin transmitting solar power from space as early as 2028.

Co-CEO Darko Filipi asserts that the technology could provide utility-scale power and potentially supply a quarter of the country's energy demand growth within the next decade. They have already signed a deal with Meta, committing to provide up to 1 gigawatt of space solar energy, equivalent to the output of a nuclear reactor. However, the technology still needs real-world testing, and even optimistic projections suggest space-based solar won't be cost-competitive until 2040.

Critics like Amory Lovins, a physicist and RMI co-founder, question the economics of the technology, pointing to more affordable alternatives like nuclear and geothermal energy. Despite this, the scarcity of suitable land for utility-scale solar and wind projects makes space-based solar an attractive proposition. Overview Energy claims their technology could meet a quarter of new energy demand without requiring additional land construction, offering dispatchable power as satellites can reach various grids worldwide. This real-time grid-switching capability could bolster energy security.