TerraSpark Secures Over Five Million Euros for Space-Based Solar Energy

This article is based on an official press release from TerraSpark.

TerraSpark, a European start-up based in Luxembourg, has successfully closed a pre-seed financing round, securing over five million euros. According to the company’s official press release, the newly raised funds will accelerate the development of space-based solar energy technology, with the ultimate goal of delivering power “orbit by orbit.”

The investment round attracted a diverse group of notable backers. Participants include the Paris-based venture capital firm Daphni, the angel investor alliance better ventures, the Hans(wo)men Group, Sake Bosch, and various strategic business angels. TerraSpark intends to utilize this capital to advance its technological framework and prepare for initial live tests and pilot applications.

As Europe grapples with an increasingly fragile energy grid and surging electricity demand, TerraSpark aims to provide a long-term solution by harvesting solar power directly from orbit. This approach is designed to ensure a constant energy supply that remains entirely unaffected by weather conditions or the time of day.

Addressing Europe’s Growing Energy Crisis

The Strain on Existing Infrastructure

The press release highlights the growing urgency of Europe’s energy challenges, pointing to the large-scale power outages experienced in Spain and Portugal in 2025 as clear evidence of the grid’s current limitations. Overloaded transmission infrastructure and rising demand are making it increasingly difficult to deliver reliable power across the continent where it is most needed.

Compounding this infrastructure issue is the rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers, particularly those required to support advanced artificial intelligence applications. Citing projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA), TerraSpark notes that data center energy demand is expected to more than double by the year 2030.

The High Cost of Off-Grid Power

For regions and industrial applications operating off the main grid, the economic realities of energy consumption are stark. The company states that operations currently relying on diesel generators face electricity costs ranging from €0.70 to €1.50 per kilowatt-hour. This high price point creates a strong economic incentive for alternative, clean energy solutions that can bypass traditional and inefficient transmission methods.

The Path to Space-Based Solar Power

Starting on Earth Before Reaching Orbit

While the concept of space-based solar power has existed since the 1970s, TerraSpark emphasizes that recent reductions in launch costs and advancements in satellite manufacturing and orbital robotics have finally made the concept economically viable. However, rather than immediately launching massive orbital arrays, the start-up is taking a phased, terrestrial approach.

According to the release, TerraSpark will begin its commercialization efforts on Earth by deploying radio frequency-based wireless energy transmission for industrial applications. This initial phase is designed to prove the system’s safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance, establishing a foundation of successful pilot applications before scaling the technology into space.

Engineering the Future of Energy Transmission

The underlying science of wireless power transfer is already well-established, but the practical, large-scale implementation remains a significant hurdle. Sanjay Vijendran, founder and Chief Technology Officer of TerraSpark and a former program manager for space-based solar energy research at the European Space Agency (ESA), emphasized this point in the company’s announcement.

“The physics behind radio frequency-based energy transfer has been validated for decades. Programs such as Solaris have laid the groundwork in Europe. The challenge today lies in the engineering discipline: building systems that scale safely and reliably. That is precisely where our focus lies,” stated Vijendran in the press release.

AirPro News analysis

At AirPro News, we observe that the successful pre-seed funding of TerraSpark underscores a growing investor appetite for deep-tech solutions to global energy transmission bottlenecks. By focusing first on terrestrial radio frequency-based wireless energy transmission, TerraSpark mitigates the immediate, high capital expenditure risks typically associated with space hardware. If successful, their Earth-bound pilot programs could serve as a critical proof-of-concept for regulatory bodies and future investors, paving a pragmatic way for the eventual deployment of orbital solar infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding did TerraSpark raise?
TerraSpark raised over five million euros in its pre-seed financing round.

Who are the primary investors in TerraSpark?
The funding round included investments from Paris-based VC firm Daphni, Sake Bosch, better ventures, the Hans(wo)men Group, and other strategic business angels.

What is TerraSpark’s long-term goal?
The company aims to develop space-based solar energy systems to provide constant, globally accessible power regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

Why is TerraSpark starting its operations on Earth?
Before scaling into orbit, the company is commercializing radio frequency-based wireless energy transmission for industrial applications on Earth to demonstrate the technology’s safety, efficiency, and regulatory compatibility.

Sources: TerraSpark