A Thousand Satellites to Power AI: Meta's Plan Seems Like Science Fiction

The growing energy demand linked to the development and training of artificial intelligence models is pushing major tech operators towards unconventional solutions. In this context, new agreements have been signed by Meta with startups Overview Energy and Noon Energy, aimed at ensuring a continuous and scalable electricity supply for its data centers.

In 2024, Meta's infrastructures consumed over 18,000 GWh of electricity, a figure comparable to the annual needs of about 1.7 million US homes. The trajectory is on the rise, driven by the expanding computing power required by AI. To respond to this demand, the company has already planned the development of 30 GW of renewable capacity, with a strong focus on industrial-scale solar.

One of the main limitations of traditional renewable sources is, however, their intermittency: solar power depends on daylight, while wind energy is tied to weather conditions. The agreement with Overview Energy aims to tackle this issue by introducing a radically different approach: collecting solar energy directly in space.

The technology involves a constellation of up to 1,000 geosynchronous satellites capable of capturing solar energy under constant illumination conditions and transmitting it to Earth in the form of low-intensity infrared light. This energy would then be converted into electricity by existing photovoltaic plants, allowing them to operate even during nighttime hours.

Meta has signed an agreement to reserve capacity of up to 1 GW of energy from this orbital infrastructure. The system also introduces a new unit of measure, "megawatt photons," which quantify the amount of light necessary to generate one megawatt of electrical power. An initial orbital test is planned for 2028, while commercial launch could come around 2030.

At the same time, the collaboration with Noon Energy addresses the topic of energy storage. The company is developing systems based on reversible solid oxide fuel cells and carbon storage, capable of ensuring over 100 hours of autonomy, surpassing the limits of lithium-ion batteries. Meta has reserved up to 1 GW / 100 GWh of capacity, with a pilot project of 25 MW / 2.5 GWh expected by 2028.

The integration of continuous production—even during nighttime—and long-duration storage represents an attempt to build a more resilient energy infrastructure suited to the consistent loads of data centers.