Overview Energy Validates Airborne Power Beaming for Space Solar Ambitions

Overview Energy, a firm established in 2022, successfully concluded a pivotal airborne power-beaming demonstration in November 2025, marking a significant validation for its space solar energy objectives. The trial involved the wireless transmission of energy from an aircraft in motion to a ground-based receiver situated over five kilometers away, specifically at an altitude of 16,500 feet, according to company reports. The hardware utilized, including the optics and laser chain, is the exact configuration slated for future orbital deployment, confirming system functionality under dynamic conditions in what the company reports as a world's first for high-power wireless energy transmission from a moving platform.

This technological progression directly addresses the historical intermittency of solar power, which has traditionally necessitated overbuilding solar farms by 1.5 to 3 times the required capacity, particularly for winter months, alongside substantial battery storage. The core objective of Overview Energy, led by Founder and CEO Marc Berte, is to deploy satellite constellations in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) to capture sunlight continuously, thereby transforming solar energy from an intermittent source into a firm, 24/7 power supply. The company has secured $20 million in seed funding from backers including Lowercarbon Capital, Prime Movers Lab, and Engine Ventures.

The energy transmission method employs low-intensity, near-infrared light, leveraging wavelengths established within fiber-optic network technology. This specific wavelength choice is engineered for high conversion efficiency, projected up to 50% when received by specialized solar cells, a notable advantage over the approximately 20% efficiency typical for pure sunlight conversion on Earth. Furthermore, the system incorporates passive safety mechanisms, and the near-infrared light is invisible to the naked eye, allowing solar panels to potentially operate more efficiently at night via beamed power than under direct daylight.

This successful airborne trial serves as the final verification stage before the company transitions to orbital testing. Overview Energy's roadmap includes a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) demonstration slated for 2028 to confirm end-to-end functionality directly from space, followed by targeted commercial operations in GEO by 2030, aiming for the first megawatt-scale transmission from orbit. The ultimate vision is to dynamically shift power delivery across continents to serve energy-intensive consumers like urban grids and data centers based on real-time demand, with a long-term ambition to supply between 10% to 20% of global electricity use by 2050.