Once the stuff of sci-fi and ambitious TED Talks, the idea of transmitting solar power from space to Earth is inching closer to reality if not exactly practicality. Leading the latest charge into this high-concept energy frontier is Baiju Bhatt, co-founder of Robinhood, now turning his entrepreneurial focus skyward with a bold startup named Aetherflux.
The mission? To beam clean, constant solar energy from satellites directly to Earth using infrared lasers.
While many might write off space-based solar power as overly ambitious or even outright fantastical—“a ludicrous idea and a bit of a pipe dream,” as some skeptics call it—Bhatt is betting big. Aetherflux has already secured $50 million in Series A funding from Silicon Valley backers and plans to test its first system in 2026. It’s a moonshot with a Starlink twist, aiming not for connectivity but for energy.
Aetherflux’s approach differs significantly from other ongoing efforts in the field. Where traditional models rely on microwave transmission, Aetherflux plans to use infrared lasers, offering smaller receiver footprints and potentially higher energy yields. Bhatt explained that a network of small satellites in Low Earth Orbit would work in concert to beam energy to compact, portable ground stations roughly 5–10 meters in diameter.
The idea is to provide power to remote islands, disaster-hit regions, and military operations, with that last application receiving a noticeable emphasis in the company’s pitch. Aetherflux has already secured financial support from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF).
Other major players have been dabbling in the same space. In 2022, China built a 246-foot ground verification tower and recently revealed plans to construct a 1-kilometer-wide solar power station in orbit. The European Space Agency and UK-Iceland collaborations are also exploring space solar. Meanwhile, Caltech made headlines in 2023 by demonstrating successful microwave-based power transfer from space to Earth.
Aetherflux, however, claims it has already succeeded in transmitting power in laboratory conditions. Still, as science YouTuber Sabine Hossenfelder points out, the concept faces daunting technical challenges—from extreme temperature fluctuations in Earth’s shadow to the need for near-perfect beam synchronization between satellites and receivers.
The company will use a satellite bus—a spacecraft’s core infrastructure—supplied by Apex Space, a Los Angeles-based platform provider. The Aeries satellite bus, in particular, will serve as the backbone for Aetherflux’s orbital infrastructure.
With a total war chest of $60 million and Pentagon backing, Aetherflux’s first real test in orbit is slated for 2026. Whether it proves viable or crashes under the weight of technical hurdles remains to be seen. But if Bhatt’s space gamble succeeds, “Starlink for electricity” might not be such a far-fetched nickname after all.
Source: Aetherflux / Medium
