Meta Platforms – the parent company of social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp – has signed an agreement with the startup Overview Energy to secure up to 1 GW of energy from a space-based solar infrastructure for its data centers by the end of the decade.
In this project, the startup aims to develop a system capable of capturing solar energy directly in orbit and transmitting it to facilities on Earth, enabling continuous, stable generation independent of weather conditions or the day-night cycle.
The first orbital demonstration of the technology is scheduled for 2028, while the start of commercial supply is expected to occur from 2030 onwards. According to information released by Reuters, the agreement provides early access to this capacity, although the financial terms have not been revealed.
For the company, the initiative represents a strategic advance in strengthening its energy matrix. “Space-based solar energy represents a transformative step, leveraging existing terrestrial infrastructure to provide new and uninterrupted energy from orbit,” stated Nat Sahlstrom, Vice President of Energy and Sustainability at Meta.
In November of last year, Google He had also revealed a previously unreleased project. to transform satellites into AI (artificial intelligence) processing centers powered by space-based solar energy.
Called Project Suncatcher, the plan seeks to operate AI chips off-Earth, taking advantage of near-uninterrupted access to sunlight and reducing reliance on the terrestrial power grid.
The proposal envisions sending TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) into Earth orbit on satellites equipped with solar panels capable of generating a constant energy supply. According to Google, this configuration could make operations up to eight times more efficient than systems powered by solar panels on Earth.
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