Reflect Orbitals, a new startup, aims to reflect sunlight onto solar panels at night using space mirrors to help solar farms generate energy even after dark.
The company’s CEO, Ben Nowack, describes sunlight as the “new oil” and believes space is ready to support energy infrastructure in this unique way. The startup’s technology involves reflector satellites that direct sunlight from space to specific targets on the ground, extending solar energy production beyond daytime.
Reflect Orbitals is currently developing its first satellite and has already seen success in early tests using a hot-air balloon with a large mirror. The company hopes to boost the efficiency of over 5,000 solar farms in the U.S., where solar power accounted for 5.6 percent of electricity generation in 2023.
Reflect Orbitals’ approach draws inspiration from a 1990s Russian satellite project, Znamya, which successfully reflected sunlight to Earth. Nowack says the technology has significantly advanced since then, making this concept more feasible.
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