Energy News and Headlines

Orbital Data, Niche Markets Give Space Solar a New Shimmer

Space‑based solar power (SBSP) is shifting from grand‑scale grid concepts to niche markets such as orbital data centers, remote military sites, and lunar installations. Startups like Aetherflux and Overview Energy are leveraging laser‑based power‑beaming and large‑satellite designs, backed by DoD grants and a $20 million seed round. Major tech firms—including Google, SpaceX, and Blue Origin—are also exploring in‑space computing platforms that could consume the energy they generate. Meanwhile, cost‑focused studies from NASA and mixed signals from ESA, Japan, and China keep the long‑term grid‑scale vision alive but uncertain.