How TerraSpark is turning sunlight captured in orbit into a new frontier for clean energy, and why daphni is backing its mission through our Blue fund.
Can space-based solar power solve Europe's energy crisis?
What if the solution to Europe's growing energy challenges wasn't on Earth, but 36,000 kilometers above it?
Europe needs more energy, more reliable infrastructure, and cleaner ways to power its future. Yet its electricity grids are facing increasing constraints, while renewable energy sources like terrestrial solar remain dependent on weather conditions and daylight hours.
What if we could capture solar energy where the sun is almost always shining and transmit it directly to Earth?
That's the ambition behind TerraSpark, a European deeptech startup backed by daphni through our Blue fund. Founded by Jasper Deprez, Matthias Laug, and Dr. Sanjay Vijendran, TerraSpark is developing space-based solar power technology designed to deliver clean, reliable energy around the clock.
And they're starting by proving it works right here on Earth.
What is space-based solar power, and how does it work?
Space-based solar power (SBSP) is a technology that aims to collect solar energy using panels positioned in orbit and wirelessly transmit that energy to receiving infrastructure on Earth.
Unlike conventional solar panels, which stop generating electricity at night and produce less energy under cloudy conditions, appropriately positioned orbital solar arrays could access sunlight almost continuously.
The concept works in three stages:
- Capture: Solar panels in orbit collect sunlight and convert it into electrical energy.
- Transmit: That energy is converted into radio-frequency signals and beamed wirelessly toward Earth.
- Receive: Ground-based receiving systems capture the transmitted energy and convert it back into usable electricity.
The potential? A new source of renewable power that is far less dependent on local weather conditions or the day-night cycle.
But turning this concept into commercially viable energy infrastructure requires more than putting solar panels into space. It requires reliable wireless power transmission, scalable engineering, and a credible path to deployment.
That's where TerraSpark comes in.
How is TerraSpark making space-based solar power a reality?
TerraSpark is developing modular orbital solar panels designed to capture sunlight and transmit energy to Earth using radio signals.
Its long-term ambition is to provide reliable clean energy wherever it is needed, opening up new possibilities for how and where electricity can be delivered.
But what makes TerraSpark's approach particularly interesting is its development strategy.
Rather than launching directly into orbit, TerraSpark is validating its wireless power transmission technology on Earth first.
Through terrestrial commercial projects, the company aims to demonstrate and refine its power-beaming capabilities before scaling them to space.
This phased approach addresses one of the biggest challenges in deeptech: translating scientific breakthroughs into commercially viable infrastructure.
TerraSpark's roadmap includes two major milestones:
- 2027: A planned orbital demonstrator to validate its technology in space.
- 2028: A targeted first demonstration of space-to-Earth power transmission.
These milestones remain development targets, but they illustrate the team's ambition to move from scientific possibility to real-world deployment.
Why did daphni invest in TerraSpark through its Blue fund?
At daphni, our Blue fund backs founders transforming breakthrough science and deeptech innovation into companies with the potential to reshape entire industries.
TerraSpark embodies that ambition.
Our investment thesis rests on four convictions.
1. A founding team that understands both science and scale.
TerraSpark brings together deep technical knowledge, commercial experience, and operational expertise. It's a rare combination, and an essential one when building infrastructure at this level of complexity.
2. Scientific expertise from the heart of Europe's space ecosystem.
Having previously led ESA's Solaris initiative, Dr. Sanjay Vijendran brings firsthand knowledge of the opportunities and challenges surrounding space-based solar power. He's now putting that expertise into action as a founder.
3. An ambitious vision backed by a pragmatic roadmap.
TerraSpark isn't waiting for a fully operational orbital energy system to begin validating its technology. By demonstrating wireless power transmission through terrestrial applications first, the team is working to reduce technical and commercial risks step by step.
4. A potential new frontier for clean energy infrastructure.
If successfully developed and deployed at scale, space-based solar power could complement existing renewable energy systems by providing a more continuous source of electricity.
With more than €5 million raised, including backing from daphni's Blue fund, TerraSpark is working to turn this vision into reality.
