Overview Energy has secured backing from the US Department of War for its space-based solar technology
It is developing a homing beacon to support secure power delivery to remote or contested military locations
Overview Energy plans to integrate the beacon into its first satellite demonstration in 2028
US-based space solar company Overview Energy has announced backing from the Department of War to develop a homing beacon for its space-based solar power system.
The beacon is intended to help satellites identify and lock onto designated ground-based receiving sites before transmitting energy from space, the company said.
Overview Energy is developing satellites that would collect solar energy in orbit and transmit it to the Earth using near-infrared light beams. The company said the system could provide electricity to remote locations without relying on conventional fuel deliveries.
The company said the technology could also support military applications by providing power to remote or contested locations. It is working with military personnel to develop and test the system at operational sites.
The Department of War has approved the contract through the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) fund that is focused on maturing and demonstrating operational energy technologies.
Christopher DePuma, Combat Power Portfolio Lead at OECIF said, "Overview Energy's technology opens up a new source of reliable power, and the homing beacon ensures precise, secure power delivery from orbit to an authenticated destination.”
Overview Energy says that the contract will support the design, development and testing of the homing beacon, which is expected to be integrated into the company’s first satellite demonstration planned for 2028.
Overview Energy previously tested wireless power transmission from a moving airborne platform. It plans to further develop the technology for a larger space-based solar power system, with commercial-scale deployment targeted for the 2030s.
This contracts follows the company securing its first US Air Force contract to assess how its space-based solar technology could provide reliable power to remote military installations, in May 2026.
Earlier this year, Meta reserved up to 1 GW of space-based solar power under an agreement with Overview Energy to support its growing AI data center energy needs in the US (see Meta Blocks Up To 1 GW Space-Based Solar Power).
