Meta solar power at night is no longer just a futuristic concept. The company has signed an agreement with startup Overview Energy that could one day use satellites to beam infrared light from space to solar farms, helping power data centers after sunset.
Why Meta solar power at night Matters
Meta’s demand for electricity continues to grow as AI systems require more computing power. In 2024, the company’s data centers used more than 18,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity, roughly enough to power over 1.7 million American homes for a year.
The company has also committed to building 30 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, with a major focus on industrial-scale solar projects.
How the Space Power System Would Work
Overview Energy is developing spacecraft that collect solar energy in space, where sunlight is continuously available.
The company plans to convert that energy into near-infrared light and beam it to large solar farms on Earth. Those facilities would then convert the incoming light into electricity.
Instead of relying on high-power lasers or microwave transmission, Overview says its wider infrared beam is designed to reduce safety, technological, and regulatory challenges. CEO Marc Berte said people could look directly at the beam without harm.
Meta Secures First Capacity Reservation
As part of the announcement, Meta said it signed the first capacity reservation agreement with Overview for up to 1 gigawatt of power from the company’s future spacecraft fleet.
The company also introduced a new contract metric called megawatt photons, representing the amount of light needed to generate one megawatt of electricity.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Satellite Launch Timeline and Scale
Overview said it has already demonstrated ground power transmission from an aircraft. Its first satellite mission to low Earth orbit is planned for January 2028.
Marc Berte expects launches supporting Meta’s commitment to begin in 2030. The long-term target is a fleet of 1,000 satellites in geosynchronous orbit, with each spacecraft expected to operate for more than 10 years.
Global Coverage Could Change Renewable Energy
Once deployed, the fleet could cover about one-third of the planet, initially stretching from the U.S. West Coast to Western Europe.
As solar farms move into evening hours, the satellites would provide additional light from space to extend electricity generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
If successful, Meta solar power at night could become one of the most ambitious renewable energy experiments tied to the AI boom.
Don’t miss out on our latest news—follow us for the latest AI news, breakthroughs, and insights that matter.