Beaming Power From Space: Overview Energy’s Leap Towards Wireless Solar Energy
On a blustery November day, a Cessna turboprop flew over Pennsylvania at 5,000 meters, battling crosswinds of up to 70 knots. this wasn’t a typical flight; it was a demonstration of a groundbreaking technology: wirelessly beaming power from an aircraft to receivers on the ground. Conducted by the Ashburn, Virginia-based startup Overview Energy, this test marked the first successful transmission of power from a moving platform, and represents a significant step towards a far more aspiring goal – harvesting solar energy in space and beaming it back to Earth. [1]
The Promise of Space-Based Solar Power
overview Energy’s vision is to deploy satellites into geosynchronous orbit (GEO) – a region approximately 22,236 miles above Earth – to collect uninterrupted solar energy. Unlike ground-based solar farms, these satellites would have constant access to sunlight, unhindered by weather or nighttime. This energy would then be transmitted back to Earth as near-infrared waves, designed to be captured by existing solar panels. [2] This concept, known as space-based solar power (SBSP), has been explored for decades, but recent advancements are bringing it closer to reality.
The idea isn’t new. Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project demonstrated in-space power transfer using microwaves in 2023. [source] Moreover, the U.S. Defense advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) achieved a record-breaking wireless power transmission of 800 watts over 8.6 kilometers in July 2025, utilizing a laser beam. [source] Though, Overview Energy’s November test was unique – it was the first time power had been successfully beamed from a moving platform to a ground receiver.
A Novel Approach: Infrared Power Beaming
While many SBSP concepts rely on microwaves for power transmission, Overview Energy is pioneering the use of near-infrared waves. According to Paul Jaffe, a former DARPA program manager who now heads systems engineering at Overview Energy, microwaves occupy a crowded portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, already heavily utilized by technologies like 5G cellular networks. [source] “If you somehow magically had a fully operational solar power satellite that used microwave power transmission in orbit today…you could not turn it on as the spectrum is not allocated to do this kind of transmission,” Jaffe explained.
Infrared waves, on the other hand, offer a less congested pathway. Crucially, existing utility-scale solar farms are already equipped to recieve and convert this type of energy, eliminating the need for entirely new infrastructure. “Your receivers are already built,” says Overview CEO Marc Berte. this simplifies the implementation process and potentially lowers costs.
Overcoming the Power Density Challenge
A key challenge in power beaming is balancing safety and efficiency. A low-density beam is safer, minimizing the risk of concentrated energy impacting a small area on Earth. However, it’s also less efficient at delivering usable power. Conversely, a high-density beam is more efficient but requires complex safety mechanisms.
Overview Energy’s approach addresses this challenge by utilizing a wide-field infrared beam. This allows for a lower power density, enhancing safety, while still providing a viable energy source. jaffe, who left his position at DARPA to join Overview Energy after being impressed by Berte’s plan, believes this solution circumvents many of the obstacles that have plagued other SBSP concepts. “This actually sounds like it could work,” Jaffe remarked, recalling his initial impression of the technology.
From Aircraft Tests to Geostationary Satellites
The November test flight, while transferring only a small amount of power, served as a crucial proof of concept. It validated the functionality of the core components and techniques that Overview Energy intends to deploy in space.The company’s next step is a prototype demonstrator in low Earth orbit (LEO). Following this, the ambitious plan is to launch GEO satellites capable of beaming megawatts of power by 2030, scaling up to gigawatts in the following decade. [3]
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite the promising advancements, significant hurdles remain. The cost of launching and maintaining satellites in space is substantial. ensuring the long-term survival of these satellites in the harsh orbital environment,including protection from orbital debris,is another critical concern. The company plans to build its satellites on Earth in a folded configuration, unfolding them once in orbit to reduce launch costs.
Though,the potential benefits of SBSP are immense. A successful implementation could provide a clean, reliable, and virtually limitless source of energy, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating the effects of climate change. as Overview Energy and other companies continue to innovate, the dream of beaming power from space may soon become a reality.
