Overview Energy has unveiled an airborne power-beaming demonstration that transferred energy from a moving aircraft to a ground receiver three miles below, marking the second major step toward delivering grid-scale solar energy from space.
The test used the same optics and laser chain planned for space operations and showed that the system can transmit power via near-infrared light from an aircraft to a receiver on the ground under real-world conditions.
The company is developing satellites that continuously collect sunlight in geosynchronous orbit and radiate it as low-intensity near-infrared light to large ground-based solar projects, allowing these facilities to provide electricity at night and operate 24 hours a day.
The selected wavelength builds on experiences from fiber optic networks, medical imaging and security systems, and aims to combine high conversion efficiency with passive safety features suitable for utility-scale power supply.
Overview plans to deploy satellite clusters that can serve multiple continents and shift power supplies in response to changing demand.
Existing and future utility-scale solar power plants will act as the receiving infrastructure, providing a network that can quickly reroute power to data centers, urban loads and large military installations without requiring major changes to the ground systems.
“Imagine sunlight gathering 22,000 miles above the Earth and then arriving as clean energy where the power grid needs it,” said Marc Berte, founder and CEO of Overview Energy. “That’s what we’re making a reality. Our milestone in the sky proved that the nuclear transmission system works in motion – the same foundation that will work in orbit. Solar energy in space will only matter if it powers real demand on Earth, and we’re designing for that scale from day one.”
The airborne test is described as the first demonstration of high-power wireless energy transmission in motion on this scale, bridging the gap between laboratory testing and future orbital operations.
In the laboratory, Overview has previously validated its laser and optics system at power levels in the thousands of watts, and the recent test confirmed that the combined lasers, optics and control systems can maintain performance while the transmitter moves.
“Overview Energy is building a key pillar for our growing energy demand, one that can dynamically allocate energy where it is most valuable and scale without the limitations of ground-based generation and transmission,” said Reed Sturtevant, General Partner at Engine Ventures. “Their approach to space solar is not just technically ambitious; it was designed from the start with real-world deployment in mind. Engine Ventures backs companies like Overview, where founders bring technical depth and commercial discipline to build infrastructure that will have a global impact.”
During the stealth phase, the company worked to tailor its architecture to the technical, security, economic and regulatory requirements for commercial deployment.
A demonstration in low Earth orbit is planned for 2028 to prove end-to-end functionality from space, and Overview is targeting commercial operations in geosynchronous orbit by 2030, including what it describes as the first megawatt-scale energy transmission from orbit.
Founded in 2022, Overview is led by a team with experience in energy systems, high-power lasers, space missions, manufacturing, business development and regulatory affairs.
Team members have previously launched satellite constellations, managed space programs, established production lines and contributed to global space regulatory frameworks.
The company has raised $20 million to date, with investors including Engine Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Prime Movers Lab, EQT Foundation, Earthrise Ventures, Aurelia Institute and other backers.
