Meta inks deal for solar power at night, beamed from space

Meta signs deal with Overview Energy to test space-based solar power, aiming for 24/7 clean energy from orbit. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Meta inks deal for solar power at night, beamed from space

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Meta has signed its first contract with Overview Energy to purchase solar power generated in space and beamed to Earth, marking a small but significant step toward a futuristic energy source that could provide round-the-clock renewable electricity. The deal, announced this week, positions the social media giant as an early corporate backer of space-based solar technology, which promises to overcome the intermittency of ground-based solar panels by collecting sunlight in orbit, where it is available 24 hours a day. The agreement between Meta and Overview Energy, a startup focused on developing orbital solar arrays, is still in its early stages. While financial terms were not disclosed, the contract is understood to cover the purchase of a small amount of electricity from a planned demonstration mission. Overview Energy aims to launch a prototype satellite within the next few years that will test the transmission of power to a receiving station on Earth using microwave beams. If successful, the project could pave the way for larger commercial systems capable of supplying continuous clean energy to data centers and other industrial facilities. Space-based solar power has long been a concept studied by space agencies and researchers, but it has faced significant technical and economic hurdles. The idea involves placing large solar panels on satellites in geostationary orbit, where they can harvest sunlight without atmospheric interference or nighttime darkness. The energy is then converted into microwaves and beamed to receivers on the ground, which convert it back into electricity. Proponents argue that such systems could provide baseload renewable power, complementing wind and solar farms that depend on weather and daylight. Meta’s involvement is notable given the company’s enormous energy needs. Its global network of data centers, which power Facebook, Instagram, and its AI infrastructure, consumes vast amounts of electricity. The company has committed to matching its operations with 100% renewable energy, and it has already signed numerous contracts for wind and solar farms. However, those sources are intermittent, requiring battery storage or backup...

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Categoria: cronaca