Meta has signed a deal with space solar firm Overview Energy to secure early access to energy from Overview's space solar energy system.

In what was described as a first-of-a-kind agreement, Meta will gain access to up to 1GW of energy from the system. The initial orbital demonstration of the system is expected to commence in 2028, with commercial power delivery expected in 2030.

According to the Overview, the system works by collecting solar energy in space, which is then beamed down into existing solar facilities on the ground, where it is converted into electricity. The company claims that this model allows the assets to maximize utilization and produce power around the clock. Overview claims that the beam is invisible, less intense than sunlight, and passively safe for humans, animals, and aircraft. In addition, the company contends that the technology is designed to meet US regulatory, grid integration, and safety standards.

"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."

"Space is becoming part of America's energy infrastructure," added 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."

Based out of Ashburn, Virginia, Overview was founded in 2022. The company has raised more than $20 million to date and has already completed a demonstration project in which it beamed power from a moving airborne platform.

There has been a growing trend of companies seeking to deploy data centers in space. Axiom Space, Starcloud (previously Lumen Orbit), NTT, Ramon.Space, and Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin are among those planning on deploying in-orbit compute.