European Startup Raises €5 Million to Beam Solar Power from Space by 2027
Amsterdam, Saturday, 11 April 2026.
TerraSpark plans to launch its first satellite next year to demonstrate space-based solar power transmission to Earth via radio waves. Founded after Belgium’s major blackout in 2025, the Luxembourg startup secured funding from investors including Quote 500 member Sake Bosch. The technology could provide continuous clean energy anywhere on Earth, eliminating solar panel intermittency issues that plague terrestrial renewable systems.
From Personal Crisis to Space Innovation
The genesis of TerraSpark traces back to a personal crisis experienced by Belgian entrepreneur Jasper Deprez during the “Grote Spaanse Black-out” in May 2025, when he found himself without power for nearly a week with his family including two small children [1]. Describing the experience as “one big shitshow,” Deprez was motivated to create a solution that could deliver reliable energy anywhere on Earth [1]. This led him to partner with Sanjay Vijendran, who previously led the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Solaris program, which had concluded that space-based solar power could be profitable [1]. The Luxembourg-based startup raised €5 million in a pre-seed funding round in March 2026, with investors including venture capital firm Daphni, Better Ventures, Hans(wo)men Group, and notably Quote 500 member Sake Bosch, who became the largest investor in the round [2][8].
Technical Breakthrough and Safety Measures
TerraSpark’s technology centers on transmitting energy via radio waves with remarkable efficiency specifications. The system operates using radio frequencies between 5.8 and 10 GHz, achieving 85% energy efficiency during transport with a ground-level beam diameter of 400 meters [1]. The maximum beam power is limited to 250 watts, complying with International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) standards that specify maximum exposure limits of 10 W/m² for the public and 50 W/m² for workers [1]. Beyond regulatory compliance, TerraSpark is implementing additional safety measures including fences around ground antennas and ground-based signals that check for obstacles before transmission [1]. As Deprez explained, “depending on the orbit around Earth, you can provide power to any location on the planet twice a day, for example at six in the morning and six in the evening, precisely during peak hours” [1].
Ambitious Timeline and Scaling Plans
TerraSpark has outlined an aggressive development timeline, planning to launch its first satellite in 2027 and transmit the first solar power to Earth by late 2027 or early 2028 [1]. The company’s initial approach involves deploying satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) at approximately 1,200 kilometers altitude, rather than the traditional geostationary satellites positioned at 36,000 kilometers [1]. By 2030, TerraSpark targets generating 4 megawatts of power, marking a significant milestone in commercial space-based solar power [1]. However, the company acknowledges it will need tens of millions more in funding beyond the current €5 million to achieve these ambitious goals [1]. The broader market potential is substantial, with a European report estimating that space-based solar power using geostationary satellites could provide between 3 and 31 percent of global energy consumption [1].
Market Context and Industry Momentum
The space-based solar power sector is gaining momentum as commercial spaceflight costs have dramatically decreased and satellite mass production has become viable [1]. NASA’s research dating back to 1969 concluded in the 1970s that harvesting solar energy via satellites presented no fundamental physical obstacles [1]. Companies like SpaceX have revolutionized launch economics, while mass production exemplified by Starlink’s deployment of ten thousand communication satellites has reduced satellite costs [1]. This technological convergence has transformed what was once science fiction into a potentially scalable business model. Sake Bosch, reflecting on his investment decision, emphasized the technical feasibility: “Capturing solar energy in space is not difficult, the challenge is bringing the energy to Earth in a reliable and efficient way. TerraSpark is developing a promising technology for wireless energy transmission, which they can first test on Earth. I have a lot of confidence in that” [2]. The timing appears strategic, as the International Energy Agency forecasts that energy demand in data centers will double over the next five years, driven partly by the explosive growth in AI applications [2].