Overview Energy plans to collect sunlight in orbit and send it to Earth, giving Meta early access to a new source of round-the-clock power
Updated
April 29, 2026 3:20 PM
A corona mass ejection erupts from our sun. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Overview Energy, a startup focused on space-based power systems, has announced a new agreement with Meta to develop a new source of electricity for data centers. The partnership centres on space solar energy, with an orbital demonstration planned for 2028 and commercial power delivery targeted for 2030.
The deal gives Meta early access to as much as 1 gigawatt of future capacity from Overview’s system. That matters because large technology companies are searching for reliable power sources as demand rises from AI computing and data center expansion.
Overview’s idea is straightforward, though the engineering is ambitious. The company plans to place satellites in orbit that collect sunlight continuously in space. That energy would then be sent to existing solar sites on Earth, where it would be converted into electricity.
Unlike ground-based solar farms, which only generate power when the sun is shining locally, a space-based system is designed to extend power generation beyond daylight hours. In theory, this could help solar facilities produce electricity around the clock without using extra land.
"Space solar technology represents a transformative step forward by leveraging existing terrestrial infrastructure to deliver new, uninterrupted energy from orbit. We're excited to partner with Overview Energy to pioneer innovative energy solutions to advance our AI ambitions and infrastructure", said Nat Sahlstrom, VP of Energy and Sustainability, Meta. "This collaboration demonstrates our commitment to innovation – leveraging cutting-edge technology to strengthen America's energy leadership".
For Meta, the agreement is less about a near-term energy fix and more about securing future options. Major data center operators are increasingly competing for electricity as AI systems require more computing power and more cooling capacity. Traditional energy projects can take years to build, making alternative supply models more attractive.
Overview says its system is designed to work with solar projects that already exist. Instead of building entirely new power plants, the company aims to increase output from current sites by adding energy received from orbit.
"Space is becoming part of America's energy infrastructure", said Marc Berte, CEO of Overview Energy. "Our approach to space solar energy enables hyperscalers and technology providers to secure clean power with reliable siting, and speed to power.” "Together with Meta, we're looking beyond traditional constraints on where and when power can be delivered to meet the growing demand for electricity".
The larger significance of the partnership is what it signals about the energy market. As AI infrastructure expands, companies are beginning to look beyond conventional grids, gas plants and land-based renewables. Technologies once considered experimental are now being explored as part of long-term infrastructure planning.
There is still a long road ahead. Space solar power has been discussed for decades, but commercial deployment remains unproven. Launch costs, regulation and system reliability will all matter.
Even so, the Meta-Overview agreement shows how rising demand for constant power is reshaping where the technology sector looks for its next energy source.
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A turbine-inspired generator shows how overlooked industrial airflow could quietly become a new source of usable power
Updated
February 12, 2026 4:43 PM
Campus building of Chung-Ang University. PHOTO: CHUNG-ANG UNIVERSITY
Compressed air is used across factories, data centers and industrial plants to move materials, cool systems and power tools. Once it has done that job, the air is usually released — and its remaining energy goes unused.
That everyday waste is what caught the attention of a research team at Chung-Ang University in South Korea. They are investigating how this overlooked airflow can be harnessed to generate electricity instead of disappearing into the background.
Most of the world’s power today comes from systems like turbines, which turn moving fluids into energy or solar cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. The Chung-Ang team has built a device that uses compressed air to generate electricity without relying on traditional blades or sunlight.
At the center of the work is a simple question: what happens when high-pressure air spins through a specially shaped device at very high speed? The answer lies in the air itself. The researchers found that tiny particles naturally present in the air carry an electric charge. When that air moves rapidly across certain surfaces, it can transfer charge without physical contact. This creates electricity through a process known as the “particulate static effect.”
To use that effect, the team designed a generator based on a Tesla turbine. Unlike conventional turbines with blades, a Tesla turbine uses smooth rotating disks and relies on the viscosity of air to create motion. Compressed air enters the device, spins the disks at high speed and triggers charge buildup on specially layered surfaces inside.
What makes this approach different is that the system does not depend on friction between parts rubbing together. Instead, the charge comes from particles in the air interacting with the surfaces as they move past. This reduces wear and allows the generator to operate at very high speeds. And those speeds translate into real output.
In lab tests, the device produced strong electrical power. The researchers also showed that this energy could be used in practical ways. It ran small electronic devices, helped pull moisture from the air and removed dust particles from its surroundings.
The problem this research is addressing is straightforward.
Compressed air is already everywhere in industry, but its leftover energy is usually ignored. This system is designed to capture part of that unused motion and convert it into electricity without adding complex equipment or major safety risks.
Earlier methods of harvesting static electricity from particles showed promise, but they came with dangers. Uncontrolled discharge could cause sparks or even ignition. By using a sealed, turbine-based structure, the Chung-Ang University team offers a safer and more stable way to apply the same physical effect.
As a result, the technology is still in the research stage, but its direction is easy to see. It points toward a future where energy is not only generated in power plants or stored in batteries, but also recovered from everyday industrial processes.