While solar power is considered an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels, there are drawbacks such as the need for bulky, costly solar panels and the availability of solar in northern climates. But a company called Virtus Solis has developed a space-based solar power generation system.

The technology uses satellite arrays to collect solar power and convert the power to microwaves. These microwaves are transmitted to ground stations, which convert the energy to electricity. As the satellites are grouped into massive arrays, it allows for a highly scalable energy platform.

At BMW’s recent Climate Week event in New York City, John Bucknell, founder and CEO of Virtus Solis, told Design News that the company will launch a manufacturing plant in Michigan by 2027. He added that the company is getting a lot of interest from solar developers and other data center providers.

Bucknell noted that the space-based solar panels avoid earthbound issues with solar energy distribution and storage and can quickly provide solar power to places requiring it. Unlike earth-based solar panels, the satellites are exposed to sunlight at all times with long dwell time over the northern and southern hemisphere due to orbital characteristics. Microwaves pass through the atmosphere with nearly no loss. Energy can be sold to the power grid or supply high demand uses with energy directly.

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A video showing Virtus Solis’s technology is below.