What is space-based solar power and how does it work?

Space-based solar power involves collecting solar energy in orbit using satellites equipped with solar panels. Unlike Earth-based solar that's affected by weather, atmosphere, and nighttime, satellites in the right orbit can capture uninterrupted sunlight 24/7. This energy is then converted to electricity and transmitted wirelessly to receiving stations on Earth using radio frequency or microwave beams. The technology could potentially provide constant clean energy without the intermittency issues of traditional renewables.

Why would space solar be better than ground-based solar panels?

Space solar offers several key advantages over ground installations. In space, solar panels receive about 8 times more energy than on Earth because there's no atmospheric filtering, no clouds, and properly positioned satellites can remain in continuous sunlight. This means space solar could deliver power 24/7, unlike ground solar which only works during daylight hours with clear weather. Space solar also doesn't require large land areas that could otherwise be used for agriculture or conservation.

How is energy transmitted from space to Earth?

The energy captured by orbital solar panels would be converted to electricity, then transformed into microwaves or radio waves for wireless transmission to Earth. Special receiving stations called rectennas (rectifying antennas) on the ground would convert these beams back into electricity for the power grid. Companies like WATT are developing this wireless power transfer technology, which must be both efficient and safe for implementation at scale.

Isn't this just science fiction? How feasible is space-based solar power?

While space-based solar was once purely theoretical, it's moving toward reality. The core technologies—solar panels, satellites, and wireless power transmission—all exist today, though they need refinement for this specific application. The primary challenges have been the high cost of launching materials into space and the efficiency of wireless power transmission. However, with launch costs dropping dramatically (down by roughly 90% in the past decade) and ongoing advances in wireless power, organizations including NASA, the European Space Agency, China, and Japan all have active development programs. Early demonstrations are expected within this decade.

What are the investment risks with space-based solar power?

This is a high-risk, long-term investment theme with several challenges. The technology is still emerging and faces significant hurdles including high development costs, regulatory questions around wireless power transmission, and competition from improving ground-based renewables. Many companies in this group derive only a portion of their revenue from space solar-relevant activities. Additionally, significant commercial deployment may be 5-10+ years away, requiring investor patience. As with any frontier technology, there's potential for delays, technical setbacks, or the emergence of alternative solutions.

15 handpicked stocks

Space-Based Solar Power

Discover companies pioneering the capture of solar energy from orbit. These carefully selected stocks represent leaders in orbital solar farm technology and wireless energy transmission, working toward a future of continuous clean power beamed directly to Earth.

Han Tan | Market Analyst

Published on June 17

Top Picks from This Group

Here are a few of the assets in this group. Create an account to unlock the full list.

Energous Corporation

WATT

Current price

$7.81

Develops radio frequency-based wireless power network technology, a key component for beaming energy from space.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

LMT

Current price

$499.79

A prime defense and aerospace contractor with extensive experience in satellite manufacturing and space-faring systems.

First Solar, Inc.

FSLR

Current price

$232.13

A leader in advanced photovoltaic module technology that could be adapted for large-scale orbital solar arrays.

Planet Labs PBC

Current price

$14.85

Ascent Solar Technologies Inc

ASTI

Current price

$1.95

Globalstar Inc.

GSAT

Current price

$40.27

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About This Group of Stocks

Our Expert Thinking

This collection focuses on a revolutionary approach to renewable energy: harvesting the sun's power from space where solar radiation is uninterrupted by weather, atmosphere, or nightfall. These companies are developing the technology to beam this continuous energy back to Earth, potentially solving the intermittency problem that plagues traditional renewables.

What You Need to Know

This is a high-risk, speculative investment theme with long-term potential. The technology is still emerging, but falling launch costs and increasing global demand for reliable clean energy create significant momentum. Companies in this group span aerospace, satellite technology, photovoltaics, and wireless power transmission sectors.

Why These Stocks

Each company was selected for its specific contribution to the space-based solar power ecosystem. From manufacturers of specialized solar panels and satellite systems to firms pioneering wireless energy transmission, these companies represent the full value chain needed to make orbital solar farms a reality.

Group Performance Snapshot

14 of 15

Stocks Rated Buy by Analysts

14 of 15 assets in this group are rated Buy by professional analysts.

2.3%

Group Growth

This group averaged a 2.3% return last month.

Source: Analyst sentiment is provided by Refinitiv Ltd, a global leader in financial market data with over 40k business clients. Refinitiv Ltd is an independent third party to Nemo. This is not advice.

Why You'll Want to Watch These Stocks

🚀

The Ultimate Frontier Market

Space-based solar could be worth trillions as a market. Getting in early on companies developing this technology might mean positioning yourself at the ground floor of what could become humanity's largest power source.

⚡

Energy's Holy Grail

These companies are chasing what energy experts call the ultimate solution: continuous, abundant, clean power without weather dependencies or land use conflicts. If they succeed, they could disrupt the entire global energy sector.

🔮

Tomorrow's Tech Today

While full-scale space solar might be years away, these companies are developing valuable technologies with near-term applications in satellite power, communications, and aerospace that could drive growth well before the first power beam.

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