Aetherflux, founded by a billionaire entrepreneur, plans to use satellites with solar panels to distribute renewable energy from space around the world
Baiju Bhatt, an American entrepreneur of Indian descent, recently revealed his new venture, the space startup Aetherflux, after months of secrecy. Its mission is to develop a kind of “Starlink” for solar energy, a network of satellites in low orbit that captures sunlight and converts it into renewable energy.
The proposal is to transmit this energy directly to Earth, helping remote regions that have difficulties in supplying electricity, in addition to offering a more sustainable and innovative alternative for the future of solar energy.
Aetherflux initially targets military applications, but Bhatt plans to expand the use of renewable energy for civilian consumers and commercials. He has already invested around US$10 million in a prototype, with the expectation of testing the technology by 2026.
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The goal is to transmit 4 kilowatts of power, enough to power an average-sized home, from a satellite 550 kilometers above sea level to a receiver. 10 meters on the ground.
If this phase is successful, the plan is to test larger satellites to generate more solar power and increase the reach of the grid, creating what Bhatt describes as “transmission lines” spatial to provide renewable energy efficiently and affordably.
The inspiration behind solar power satellite technology
Bhatt’s idea for a solar-powered “Starlink” is based on an old concept popularized in science fiction. He credits author Isaac Asimov for the initial inspiration, who in 1941 described a spacecraft that beamed solar energy to Earth.
In the 1970s, NASA and the US Department of Energy explored similar ideas, but technological limitations at the time prevented them from moving forward. Bhatt believes that these obstacles can now be overcome with his innovative approach of using smaller satellites instead of giant panels in geostationary orbit.
The great advantage of solar energy transmitted from space is that it is not interrupted by factors such as weather, cloud cover or the Earth's rotation.
The renewable energy generated by Aetherflux satellites can be collected continuously, regardless of weather conditions. In addition, Bhatt points out that infrared laser technology, instead of microwaves, allows for more efficient transmission of solar energy, reducing the impact on the ground and increasing the transmitted power.
Renewable energy from space: challenges and new opportunities
Other space-based solar power projects are also underway. In 2023, researchers at CalTech became the first to successfully beam solar energy directly from space to Earth.
These initiatives demonstrate that the idea of satellites transmitting renewable energy is no longer just a science fiction dream, but a concrete possibility, especially given the urgent need to find solutions to combat climate change and meet the growing demand for clean energy sources.
For Bhatt, this venture into renewable and solar energy is a return to his roots. Before co-founding Robinhood, he studied physics and mathematics at Stanford, and has always harbored a strong interest in space. His father, who worked at NASA’s Langley Research Center, was a defining influence in his life, inspiring his dream of one day developing something in the space industry.
Now, with Aetherflux, Bhatt is looking to make that dream come true, using his experience as an entrepreneur to revolutionize the solar and renewable energy sector.
Based in San Carlos, California, Aetherflux has already hired a team of engineers from companies like SpaceX and Luminar. The company has acquired a 150-kilogram satellite from Apex, another startup Bhatt has invested in, to carry the solar panels his team is developing. These satellites will be responsible for capturing solar energy in space and transmitting that renewable energy efficiently to stations on Earth, creating a network that Bhatt hopes to expand globally, similar to Starlink.
The journey ahead is challenging, but Bhatt is committed to making his vision of a “Starlink” for solar energy a reality. He knows that creating a network of satellites to transmit renewable energy will be no easy task, but he believes this technology has the potential to revolutionize how the world consumes and distributes energy.
If successful, Aetherflux could not only provide a sustainable solution for remote regions, but also position solar energy as an affordable and continuous source for the future.