US-based Meta has signed a first-of-its-kind agreement with Overview Energy to reserve generating capacity based on solar energy from space, the startup said in a press release.
Overview’s satellites will store solar energy and send it as near-infrared radiation to Earth-based solar power plants, where it will be turned into electricity at any time of day. Such radiation is invisible, less intense than sunlight and safe for humans, animals and aircraft.
As part of the agreement, Meta will get early access to up to 1 GW of capacity. The system will provide “modular scalability” for its AI infrastructure, writes Overview.
Initial orbital demonstration of the system is scheduled for 2028, with commercialisation scheduled for 2030.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.