The quest for sustainable energy to power AI models has intensified, with Meta recently partnering with Overview Energy. This collaboration aims to deploy up to a thousand satellites that will transmit infrared light to solar farms, allowing data centres to harness energy during nighttime hours.
In 2024, Meta’s data centres consumed over 18,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity — enough to power approximately 1.7 million homes in the US for a year. As the demand for computing power continues to escalate, Meta is committed to developing 30 gigawatts of renewable energy, primarily focusing on large-scale solar installations.
Traditionally, solar-powered data centres face challenges in operating at night, often relying on battery storage or alternative energy sources. However, Overview, a Virginia-based startup that emerged from stealth mode in December, proposes a novel solution: developing spacecraft that can capture solar energy in space, convert it to near-infrared light, and transmit it to expansive solar farms capable of generating hundreds of megawatts of electricity.
This innovative approach aims to circumvent the technical complexities and regulatory hurdles that accompany existing power transmission methods, such as high-power lasers or microwave beams. According to Overview’s CEO Marc Berte, the infrared beam from their satellites is safe for direct exposure.
If implemented effectively, this technology could enhance the return on investment for constructing solar farms and lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Overview claims to have successfully tested power transmission from aircraft and plans to launch a satellite in January 2028 to begin its initial power transmission from orbit.
In a recent announcement, Meta confirmed it has signed a capacity reservation agreement with Overview, provisionally securing up to 1 gigawatt of energy from the startup’s satellites. A novel metric called “megawatt photons” has been introduced to quantify the light needed to generate a megawatt of electricity, although details surrounding any financial exchange remain undisclosed.
Berte anticipates the launch of these satellites starting in 2030, with the goal of deploying 1,000 spacecraft into geosynchronous orbit, allowing them to remain positioned over specific Earth locations. Each satellite is expected to relay power from space for over a decade, covering about one-third of the planet. This initial satellite fleet will facilitate enhanced energy capture for solar farms across the western United States through to Western Europe during evening and night hours.
Berte envisions a dual advantage in merging both the generation and transmission of energy, allowing for optimal power delivery according to demand. As he noted to TechCrunch, the potential for operating across multiple energy markets could offer significant advantages over concentrating on just one.
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