For all of us, the sun eventually sets and night arrives, but a startup is determined to alter this. Reflect Orbitals, located in California, has created a method to market sunlight even after nightfall.
Reflect Orbitals’ main objective is to increase the energy output of solar farms by constructing space mirrors that reflect sunlight onto solar panels during nighttime. Their website offers the opportunity for individuals to reserve a section of reflected light for personal use.
According to the startup’s CEO Ben Nowack, the potential of solar energy is comparable to that of oil and the space industry is well-equipped to accommodate energy infrastructure.
In a YouTube video, they explained that by accurately directing the abundant sunlight in space to designated locations on the Earth’s surface, we can utilize solar energy beyond just daytime hours. This would ultimately lead to the commercialization of sunlight.
“In the 1990s, a reflector satellite [Znamya] was launched by the Russians, which proved to be successful. However, significant progress has been made since then.”
In the year 2023, solar energy represented 5.6 percent of electricity production in the US, an increase from 4.8 percent in the previous year. The US Energy Information Administration reports that there are over 5,000 solar farms located throughout the country. This number continues to grow.
The startup is confident that it can greatly increase the production of these farms by deploying a network of basic reflector satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
The company’s first satellite is currently being developed, although it has already experienced success through real-life experimentation with a hot-air balloon that features a large mirror.
On its website, Reflect Orbitals states that it is possible to reserve a beam of light. By filling out a form before October 23, 2024, the delivered sunlight after dark will begin in Q4 2025. This service will only be available for four minutes and will cover a diameter of five kilometers.
The startup stands out as unique and inventive in comparison to the recent influx of AI products. While the Friend AI necklace has recently gained attention, past examples such as the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin have also caught our eye.
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