Meta signs deal for space-based solar power for AI data centers

Meta is moving decisively to solve one of the most stubborn problems in clean energy: solar power’s dependence on daylight. The company has signed a deal with Overview Energy to tap into space-based solar power, a technology that promises to keep its AI data centers running on renewable energy around the clock.

The concept is straightforward but ambitious. Overview’s satellites will sit in geosynchronous orbit, where they can collect sunlight continuously without interruption from Earth’s rotation. They will then beam that energy back to the ground as near-infrared light, targeting existing solar installations. Those ground arrays, already built and connected to the grid, will convert the incoming beam into electricity.

This approach sidesteps several major barriers to renewable expansion. It requires no new land, no new grid connections, and no additional infrastructure on the ground. Instead, it extends the output of solar farms well beyond sunset, effectively turning them into 24-hour power sources. For Meta, which is racing to scale its AI operations while meeting aggressive climate targets, the timing could not be more critical.

AI data centers consume massive amounts of electricity, and the demand is only growing. By pairing Overview’s orbital collectors with its existing solar assets, Meta can boost reliability without waiting for new transmission lines or permitting for new solar fields. The deal signals that space-based solar power is moving from theoretical research toward commercial reality, at least for deep-pocketed tech giants.

If successful, this partnership could set a template for other hyperscale data center operators looking to decarbonize without slowing down. The sun never sets in geosynchronous orbit, and Meta is betting that harvesting it from above is the next logical step in clean energy innovation.