TechCrunch Industry News Overview Energy wants to beam energy from space to existing solar farms; plus Nvidia is reportedly testing tracking software
Dec 11, 2025
An ambitious startup plans to revolutionize energy by harvesting sunlight from space and beaming it to Earth using infrared lasers. Challenges like launch costs and conversion efficiency take center stage, with discussions on competing methods such as lasers versus microwaves. Meanwhile, Nvidia is reportedly testing software that could track the location of its AI chips, sparking intrigue around smuggling allegations and export restrictions. The tech world is abuzz with potential breakthroughs and the implications for the future.
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Space Solar To Power Earthly Farms
- Overview plans to harvest sunlight from geosynchronous orbit and beam it as infrared to existing solar farms to enable near-24/7 power delivery.
- The approach faces cost, efficiency, weather sensitivity, and public-safety challenges before it can compete with cheaper terrestrial solar and batteries.
Laser Versus Microwave Tradeoffs
- Laser transmission is sensitive to clouds and humidity, making infrared beams less reliable than microwaves in bad weather.
- Microwave systems avoid weather issues but require new ground stations and can't reuse existing solar farms.
Make Efficiency And Safety Nonnegotiable
- Prioritize efficient laser conversion to preserve the benefits of collecting sunlight in space and avoid net energy loss.
- Design rapid beam-interruption and safety measures to mitigate risks to birds and aircraft and to gain public trust.