A California-based firm called Reflect Orbital founded by Ben Nowack is creating a method to increase solar power generation by supplying sunlight after dark
Reflect Orbital intends to launch a number of satellites with big mirrors on board that can reflect sunlight onto particular regions of the planet. The main goal is to provide sunlight whenever needed, especially at night when solar panels would otherwise be dormant, in order to optimize the output of solar farms.
The concept by Reflect Orbital of supplying sunshine via space-based reflectors is not a novel one. Russia’s Znamya project experimented in the 1990s with satellites equipped with enormous reflectors meant to beam sunlight toward Earth. Illuminating places at night or in places with little sunlight was the aim. But the project ran into a lot of technical problems and was eventually shelved.
Who is Ben Nowack Founder and CEO of Reflect Orbital and is his company selling sunlight real or fake
Ben Nowack and Tristan Semmelhack founded Reflect Orbital, which is building a network of satellites that can reflect sunlight back to Earth. The CEO of the company, Nowack, has been vocal about how their technology might completely transform the solar energy sector by guaranteeing electricity generation even at night.
Co-founder and CEO Ben spent years diving into hundreds of technical projects before starting Reflect Orbital. In high school, he ran the โBenNbuildsโ science channel featuring projects like an x-ray machine, a fusion reactor, high temperature superconductors, and dozens of airborne and underwater vehicles.
In 11th grade he teamed up with Peter Brown of Whale Wars to build underwater live stream cameras and as a college freshman Ben led SpaceX projects validating Crew Dragon propulsion components, appeared on โMythbusters: The Searchโ on the Science Channel, and solo climbed Mont Blanc.
Sophomore year Ben summited Denali, returned to SpaceX, built a camera to explore the depths of Lake Tahoe on the weekends and completed his engineering degree while working as Senior Engineer at Park and Diamond. After graduating, he worked as Director of Engineering at Tri-D Dynamics and Mechanical Engineer at Zipline.
Sharing a bit more about Reflect Orbital today. @4TristanS and I are developing a constellation of revolutionary satellites to sell sunlight to thousands of solar farms after dark.
We think sunlight is the new oil and space is ready to support energy infrastructure. Thisโฆ pic.twitter.com/5WRb8etAv0
โ Ben Nowack (@bennbuilds) March 13, 2024
Recently, Reflect Orbital successfully tested a prototype by reflecting sunlight onto a mobile solar farm utilizing a hot-air balloon fitted with a huge mirror. The company’s next move will be to start delivering its satellite-based mirrors, which should happen in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The Reflect Orbital website states that limited spots for their sunshine service are available, and applications will close in October. Every four minutes or so, sunlight will be deployed, covering an area around three miles in diameter. You can apply and register here but the price hasn’t been revealed yet.
People have been treated to breathtaking auroras as far south as Florida in the United States as the Sun approaches the zenith of its 11-year solar cycle. Those searching for novel methods to capture and convert the Sun’s enormous power into energy have focused on this very force, which it emits on a daily basis.
The space business Honeybee recently suggested building a 100-meter solar tower on the moon’s surface that would supply lunar outposts with electricity whenever and wherever they needed it. Reflect Orbital now seeks to address a significant problem with solar farms on Earth, which is the apparent absence of sunlight at night.