Meta Platforms signed an agreement with space startup Overview Energy to secure space-based solar power for its U.S. data centers [1, 2].
The partnership addresses the massive energy requirements of artificial intelligence workloads. By sourcing power from orbit, Meta seeks to bypass the constraints of terrestrial power grids and ensure a continuous supply of clean energy [3, 4].
Under the terms of the deal, Meta has secured up to one gigawatt of space-based solar power [6]. This energy will be collected in orbit and beamed down to ground facilities that feed into Meta's data center infrastructure [3, 5].
Timeline milestones for the project include an initial orbital demonstration expected in 2028 [4]. Full commercial power delivery is projected to begin in 2030 [4, 6].
The shift toward orbital energy reflects the growing pressure on national grids as AI scaling increases electricity demand. Traditional renewable sources, such as ground-based wind and solar, are often intermittent, a gap that space-based solar intends to fill by capturing sunlight without atmospheric interference [1, 3].
Meta has not released specific details regarding the financial terms of the agreement, but the move aligns with the company's broader goals to power its high-density AI infrastructure with sustainable sources [1, 6].
“Meta has secured up to one gigawatt of space-based solar power.”
This agreement signals a strategic shift in how Big Tech manages infrastructure risks. By investing in space-based solar, Meta is attempting to decouple its AI growth from the volatility and physical limitations of the U.S. electrical grid. If successful, this move could trigger a broader industry trend where hyperscalers seek energy independence through orbital technology to maintain 24/7 uptime for AI models.
