Virtus Solis

What Virtus Solis does

Virtus Solis is a privately held space energy company developing the world's first commercial space-based solar power (SBSP) generation system. Founded in 2019 in Troy, Michigan, the company operates from Michigan with additional offices in Indianapolis, the United Kingdom, and Detroit (Newlab at Michigan Central). Its core product is a constellation of small satellites deployed in highly elliptical Molniya orbits, each 1.65 meters across and delivering 1 kilowatt of power to ground via 10 GHz microwave wireless power transfer. Arrays scale from 100 MW (using approximately 100,000 satellites) up to 20 GW or more, with the company targeting a delivered power cost of $30/MWh. Ground-based rectenna stations receive the microwave beam and convert it back to electricity, achieving claimed greater-than-90% availability and 2 square kilometers per GW of land footprint versus 35+ square kilometers for terrestrial solar.

The company plans to monetize by selling firm, dispatchable clean power directly to utilities and grid operators under long-term power purchase agreements, and by supplying dedicated rectenna infrastructure to high-demand users such as AI data centers, industrial facilities, and government/defense installations. Target segments include data centers/AI infrastructure and utilities (primary), with industrial/chemical processing and government/defense as secondary. Distribution is exclusively enterprise direct-sales; there is no consumer or self-serve channel. Marketing relies on technical content (50+ blog posts), industry conferences (APRAE Energy Innovation Summit, SAT Show, AIAA Sci-Tech 2026), earned media (Forbes, Fast Company, NYT, Space.com), and dedicated government affairs.

Operationally, Virtus Solis is pre-revenue with 1-10 employees. It secured first external funding in November 2021, followed by rounds with Michigan Rise and Telegraph Hill Capital (Dec 2022), Newchip Accelerator ($250K, Jan 2023), and URBAN-X (Mar 2024). Leadership includes founder/CEO John Bucknell (ex-SpaceX Raptor, ex-Divergent Technologies, 46 patents), co-founder/COO Seth Elliott (ex-Quantive, ex-Free2Move), and co-founder/CTO Dr. Edward Tate (ex-Dassault Systemes, ex-Exa, 41 patents, PhD EE Systems, University of Michigan). The company has obtained an experimental transmit license for wireless power transfer and is approximately one-third through a commercial transmitter license application — establishing the first regulatory pathway for SBSP microwave beaming. Recognition includes 2025 Global Space Awards finalist status. The technology has been validated through dozens of live wireless power transfer demonstrations, including at 100-meter distance.

Name

Virtus Solis

Legal name

Virtus Solis

Website

https://virtussolis.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Virtus Solis is a Michigan-based space energy startup developing a space-based solar power system using Molniya-orbit satellites that beam microwave energy to ground rectennas. It targets firm 24/7 clean power sales to utilities, AI data centers, industrial users, and government/defense customers via PPAs and direct supply.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space-Based Solar Power

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600), Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Grid Integration & Interconnection Services (Studies, Protection, SCADA, Forecasting) (EUAMABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar Inverters, Power Electronics & MLPE (String/Central Inverters, Optimizers, Microinverters) (EUAMABAE), Solar Thermal & CSP Systems (Collectors, Receivers, Thermal Storage, CSP EPC) (EUAMABAL)

Keywords

• Space-based solar power
• Wireless power transfer
• Satellite solar arrays
• Microwave power beaming
• Space energy generation

Headquarters

HQ city

Troy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Power Sales to Grid / Utilities: Energy is sold into the power grid via long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) or merchant power contracts with utilities and grid operators. Space-based solar power provides firm, dispatchable electricity that complements intermittent renewables.
2. Direct Power Supply to High-Demand Users: Power is supplied directly to high-demand users such as data centers, industrial facilities, and government installations via dedicated ground rectenna infrastructure, bypassing traditional grid transmission constraints.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Virtus Solis has designed the world's first space-based solar power (SBSP) energy generation system. Satellite arrays in highly elliptical Molniya orbits collect solar energy 24/7, convert it to 10 GHz microwaves, and beam the energy through the atmosphere to ground-based rectenna stations that convert the microwaves back to electricity. Each 1.65-meter satellite delivers 1 kW to ground, with arrays scalable from 100 MW (100,000 satellites) to 20 GW or more, providing firm, dispatchable clean power at a target cost of $30/MWh.

Product overview

Virtus Solis offers a single core product: a space-based solar power (SBSP) energy generation system. The system comprises satellite arrays that collect solar power in orbit, convert it to microwaves at 10 GHz, and beam it to Earth where ground-based rectenna stations convert the microwave energy back to electricity. The satellites are deployed in a highly elliptical Molniya orbit constellation, enabling constant power delivery with greater than 90% availability. Arrays scale from 100 MW to 20 GW or more, with each 1.65 meter satellite delivering 1 kW of power.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Space-Based Solar Power Energy Generation System A space-based solar power (SBSP) energy generation system that collects solar energy via satellite arrays in highly elliptical Molniya orbits, converts it to 10 GHz microwaves, and transmits the energy to ground-based rectenna stations that convert it back to electricity. Each 1.65-meter satellite delivers 1 kW to ground, with arrays scalable from 100 MW (100,000 satellites) to 20 GW or more, providing firm, dispatchable clean power for utilities, data centers, industrial users, and government/defense installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% higher solar intensity in orbit vs. ground, enabling 5-20x smaller footprint than terrestrial renewables
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Artificial GeniusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Virtus Solis & Artificial Genius announced collaboration in July 2024 to accelerate the development of space-based solar power. The collaboration focuses on joint technical development to advance SBSP capabilities.
• Orbital CompositesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Orbital Composites & Virtus Solis announced a space-based solar demonstration collaboration on February 1, 2024. The partnership involves joint demonstration of SBSP technology hardware.
• University of BristolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Virtus Solis is in a joint project with University of Bristol on simulating beams from orbit through the atmosphere, enabling modeling and simulation for UK national and continental SBSP planning. Part of the UK Space Energy Initiative.
• Intersect PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntersect Power is listed as a strategic partner on Virtus Solis's team page. Intersect Power is a clean energy infrastructure company developing utility-scale solar, storage, and green hydrogen projects.
• NewlabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtus Solis joined Newlab at Michigan Central in Detroit — a hardware and deep tech innovation hub located next to Michigan Central Train Station, part of Ford Motor Company's Michigan Central Innovation District. Provides access to metal work, wood work, electronics, and event facilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Regional players

• China Energy Engineering Corporation: Chinese state-owned energy infrastructure conglomerate building a planned MW-class SBSP demonstrator in Chongqing / Xichang. Operates in the same category as Virtus Solis but in a different geography with state-scale funding — a key international competitor for first-operational status.

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman: Major US aerospace and defense prime with longstanding research and concept work in SBSP (including historical SSP study contracts for NASA / DoD). Represents the large-incumbent pathway into the same end market Virtus Solis targets.
• Lockheed Martin: US defense prime with historical SBSP research investments (including solar-thermal and photovoltaic variants). Comparable as a large incumbent studying the same space-to-ground power beaming problem Virtus Solis is commercializing.
• Airbus: European aerospace prime with active SBSP concept research and participation in ESA SOLARIS preparatory studies. Overlaps with Virtus Solis's space-energy ambitions through both technology research and potential utility customer relationships in Europe.

Direct peers

• Solaren Corporation: Pioneering California-based SBSP company operating since the mid-2000s with prior Pacific Gas & Electric memorandum of understanding. One of the earliest commercial entrants into SBSP and a direct historical counterpart to Virtus Solis's approach.
• Aetherflux: US-based SBSP startup founded by Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt (Forbes, Oct 2024). Pursues space-based solar power beaming directly to ground stations, making it the most directly comparable US rival in commercial SBSP.
• Space Solar: UK-based commercial SBSP company — the only other publicly named commercial competitor to Virtus Solis. Pursues orbital solar power with wireless power transfer to ground rectennas, with active UK government backing through the Space Energy Initiative.

Emerging players

• Star Catcher Industries: US space-energy startup focused on in-space power beaming to satellites — adjacent to SBSP. Targets a related but narrower problem (orbital asset refueling vs. Earth power generation), making it a useful emerging comparable.
• Reflect Orbital: California-based startup deploying satellite constellations to reflect concentrated sunlight to ground solar farms at dawn/dusk. Pursues a different mechanism (reflected sunlight vs. microwave WPT) but competes for the same value proposition: extending solar's productive hours.

Others

• Caltech Space Solar Power Project: Caltech's academic SBSP research program that successfully demonstrated wireless power transfer in orbit via the MAPLE experiment in 2023 (funded by Donald Bren). Comparable technology pathway but non-commercial; serves as a research benchmark and potential talent source for Virtus Solis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virtus-solis-technologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virtus Solis