Florida-based Star Catcher Industries has taken a major step towards building the world's first space-based energy grid. The innovative venture aims to create a network of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) that will collect and distribute solar energy. 

Star Catcher

Star Catcher Industries will establish an energy grid in space, providing continuous and uninterrupted energy compared to traditional energy collection methods. In the project, which will consist of satellites called "Power Nodes", satellites will collect solar energy and then send highly concentrated energy beams to other satellites. This will increase the energy efficiency of other satellites in space by five to ten times. If we compare Star Catcher's energy grid with traditional energy collection methods, it will give us many more advantages. To collect solar energy, we need to have a clear and open sky. This means we lose a lot of energy at night when the sun goes out and on days when there are heavy rain clouds. With this project, however, we will be able to collect solar energy 24 hours a day without being affected by the weather conditions on our planet. In addition, this method of collecting energy will not occupy our land on earth. In this way, environmental impacts will be minimized. 

Star Catcher Industries has received $12.25 million in seed investment to realize this grand vision. The company will use the funding to validate its energy beaming technology. After initial ground tests, an orbital demonstration is planned for late 2025. Deployment of commercial services will begin after this demonstration. Besides Star Catcher, other companies such as Caltech and Space Solar are also working on space-based energy projects. Caltech has successfully demonstrated beaming energy to Earth. Space Solar is working on a 360-degree power transmission system.