Meta Signs Landmark Deal to Power Data Centers at Night with Space-Based Solar Energy

In a major step toward clean energy, Meta has teamed up with satellite startup Overview Energy to harness solar power from space. This marks a new chapter in renewable energy solutions for data centers. The partnership aims to provide continuous electricity to Meta’s expanding artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States by using space-based solar technology. 

The agreement underlines Meta’s commitment to sustainability, as the company strives to reach its net-zero emissions goal by 2030. By using solar energy gathered in space, Meta aims to tackle one of the main challenges of traditional renewable energy—intermittency.

A New Frontier in Solar Energy

Overview Energy, a Virginia startup founded in 2022, is innovating technology that captures solar energy in space and sends it to Earth. Unlike ground-based solar panels that depend on sunlight and weather, the company’s satellites are in geosynchronous orbit, allowing them to receive constant sunlight. This enables them to produce energy around the clock, regardless of time zones or weather disruptions.

The collected solar energy is transmitted to existing solar facilities on Earth as low-intensity, near-infrared light. These ground stations convert the energy into usable electricity. This innovative method greatly improves the efficiency of current solar installations by extending their operational hours, especially at night.

Improving Existing Infrastructure

This technology has a significant advantage: it does not need additional land for new solar farms. Instead, it boosts the output of existing solar installations by allowing them to work beyond daylight hours. This makes it a scalable and environmentally friendly solution, particularly in areas where land is scarce or where expanding solar capacity faces challenges.

Overview Energy’s CEO, Marc Berte, pointed out that the company’s approach aims to meet the increasing energy demands of major tech providers. As AI and cloud computing grow rapidly, the need for reliable, clean, and constant power is more important than ever.

Meta’s Strategic Investment in Clean Energy

With this agreement, Meta will gain early access to up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity from Overview Energy’s space-based solar system. This amount of power is enough to support large-scale data center operations. The partnership aligns with Meta’s overall sustainability strategy, which includes matching 100% of its electricity use with renewable sources and reaching net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by the end of the decade.

Meta has already established itself as a leader in corporate clean energy procurement. According to BloombergNEF, the company was the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in 2025, securing over 10 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy capacity that year. This new deal strengthens Its position as a pioneer in using advanced solutions to achieve sustainability goals.

Timeline and Future Prospects

The project is still in its early stages, with an initial orbital demonstration set for 2028. If it proves successful, commercial power delivery is expected to start by 2030. While the idea of space-based solar power has been around for decades, recent improvements in satellite technology and energy transmission have made it more feasible.

Meta’s Vice President of Energy and Sustainability, Nat Sahlstrom, described the initiative as a key step that brings together both space and ground infrastructure. He noted that the collaboration shows Meta’s commitment to innovation and its role in promoting energy solutions that can support future technological growth.

Implications for the Energy Sector

This partnership could have significant impacts beyond Meta’s operations. If successful, space-based solar energy could transform the renewable energy sector by offering a steady and reliable power source. It might also reduce reliance on fossil fuels and help stabilize energy grids, particularly during peak demand or in areas with limited renewable resources.

Additionally, this technology has the potential to change how countries approach energy security and sustainability. By delivering clean power from orbit, it overcomes many of the geographic and environmental limitations of traditional energy generation.

Conclusion

Meta’s agreement with Overview Energy marks a bold move toward transforming renewable energy. By investing in space-based solar power, the company is addressing its own energy needs while contributing to a developing technology that could influence the future of global energy systems. As the world faces climate change and rising energy demands, innovations like these could be essential in building a more sustainable and resilient future.