In California, a startup called Reflect Orbital is working to revolutionize solar power production by launching a cluster of mirrors into orbit. The goal is to transmit sunlight to solar power plants, allowing them to increase electricity production even after dark. Ben Nowack, founder and CEO of Reflect Orbital, recently presented the company’s plans at the International Conference on Energy from Space. According to Space, a prototype of Reflect Orbital’s light-reflecting satellite is expected to launch next year.
Reflect Orbital aims to develop a cluster of 57 small satellites that will orbit the Earth in a sun-synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of 600 km. These satellites will travel around the Earth from pole to pole, ensuring that they fly over each point on Earth at the same time of day twice within a 24-hour period. This synchronized movement will provide an additional 30 minutes of sunlight to power plants at crucial times when energy is needed most.
While the cost of solar cells has significantly decreased by 90% in the past 15 years, and their efficiency continues to improve, the intermittent nature of solar power production remains a challenge. Solar power plants are less productive on cloudy days, and energy production halts entirely at night. Battery systems and other forms of renewable energy currently fill these gaps. However, Reflect Orbital’s innovative satellite technology offers a promising solution to these problems.
Reflect Orbital’s satellite is lightweight, weighing only 16 kg, and is equipped with a large mylar mirror for deployment in orbit. The mylar material is commonly used in space for insulation and packaging. The satellite’s mirrors will be positioned to concentrate sunlight into a focused beam that can be redirected and adjusted based on the needs of solar farm operators. The company completed successful mirror tests using balloons floating 3 km above a solar farm last year, demonstrating the potential to significantly enhance energy production.
Reflect Orbital is actively seeking investment capital to launch its first test satellite into space in 2025