Meta Reserves 1GW+ Solar and Energy Storage for AI Data Centers

Meta has signed energy deals with Overview Energy and Noon Energy to secure power capacity for its artificial intelligence data centers, according to The Economic Times. The company reserved up to 1 gigawatt of space solar capacity from Overview Energy and up to 1 gigawatt plus 100 gigawatt-hours of long-duration storage from Noon Energy, with both technologies described as early-stage.

Technology Overview and Partnership Details

Overview Energy plans to collect solar power in orbit and transmit it to Earth as low-intensity near-infrared light to existing ground solar sites, targeting round-the-clock power output without requiring new land. Noon Energy develops storage systems capable of holding energy for more than 100 hours using a reversible solid-oxide fuel cell technology that stores energy by converting carbon dioxide into solid carbon.

Noon Energy’s storage approach targets approximately $20 per kilowatt-hour of storage capacity and uses about 1% of the critical elements required in lithium-ion batteries, potentially reducing supply chain risk. The company’s technology relies on common elements such as carbon and oxygen.

Timeline and Project Milestones

Meta’s partnership with Noon Energy includes a pilot project targeted for completion in 2028. Commercial delivery of power from Overview Energy is not expected until 2030, reflecting the early-stage nature of both technologies.

Context: AI Power Demand and Energy Strategy

AI data centers are driving rising power demand across the technology industry. One estimate cited in the source indicates that large tech companies’ data-center energy use could double or triple by 2028. By securing early-stage energy projects, tech companies can line up dedicated power sources, reducing reliance on the grid and avoiding delays from slow interconnection queues.

These energy partnerships align with Meta’s broader approach to infrastructure risk mitigation. The company has previously moved to secure nuclear capacity and is now diversifying energy sources through multiple novel options to support its expanding AI operations.