Volta Space Technologies
Volta Space Technologies develops laser-based Optical Wireless Power Transmission systems, offering a LightGrid satellite constellation and LightPort surface receivers to enable persistent power delivery for lunar missions and drone applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Volta Space Technologies does
Volta Space Technologies is a Montreal-based, privately held company founded in 2020 that develops laser-based Optical Wireless Power Transmission (OWPT) systems for lunar and terrestrial applications. Its core technology stack comprises a planned constellation of solar-collecting satellites in low lunar orbit called LightGrid, which transmit energy via laser to compact surface receivers called LightPort. LightPort is a sub-2 kg, 30 cm-diameter receiver capable of delivering more than 100 W of power, positioned as a 5x specific-power improvement over radioisotope thermoelectric generators and one-tenth the mass of the smallest battery capable of enduring a single lunar night. Supporting products include Drone LightPort for unmanned aerial systems, Power-Over-Fiber (PoF) for terrestrial tactical and emergency applications, and LEPTON, a demonstration project with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory funded by the U.S. Department of War.
The company serves lunar mission operators (government space agencies and commercial lander/rover providers such as Firefly Aerospace, Dcubed, and ispace US) that face the constraint that most lunar missions currently end within roughly 14 days because surviving the 14-day, -230°C lunar night requires prohibitively heavy battery infrastructure. Volta targets this "energy gap" by offering persistent power delivery anywhere on the lunar surface during night, with claimed mission-life extension of up to 100x at a target cost of approximately $500K per mission.
Volta's revenue model centers on a Power-as-a-Service (PaaS) subscription offering on a pay-as-you-go basis, designed to eliminate upfront capex for lunar power infrastructure. To date, cash inflows are dominated by non-dilutive grants and agency contracts, including CAD $978,822 from the Canadian Space Agency's STDP program (2024), $500K Phase 1 of NASA's $5M Watts on the Moon Challenge, and selection into NATO's DIANA Accelerator and the European Space Resources Innovation Centre. The company is privately held, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, and operates with 11-50 employees.
Volta Space Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Volta Space Technologies
- Legal name
- Volta Space Technologies Inc.
- Website
- https://voltaspace.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Volta Space Technologies develops laser-based Optical Wireless Power Transmission systems, offering a LightGrid satellite constellation and LightPort surface receivers to enable persistent power delivery for lunar missions and drone applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Volta Space Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Power Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Satellite Telecommunications (5174)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS) (IMABACAH)
Keywords
Where Volta Space Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Volta Space Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Power-as-a-Service (PaaS): Pay-as-you-go model for lunar power delivery. Customers avoid high capex of big batteries and fixed power infrastructure. Provides zero fixed cost entry to lunar power.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Power-as-a-service pricing model |
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Volta Space Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Volta Space Technologies develops an Optical Wireless Power Transmission (OWPT) system that beams laser-based power from solar-collecting satellites in lunar orbit to compact surface receivers, enabling lunar landers, rovers, and surface equipment to operate through the 14-day lunar night. The offering centers on the LightGrid orbital constellation paired with the LightPort receiver, with supporting products including Drone LightPort for unmanned aerial systems and Power-Over-Fiber technology for terrestrial defense and emergency applications. The LEPTON program with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory targets a 2028 demonstration of power transfer from low lunar orbit to the lunar surface.
Product overview
Volta Space Technologies offers a modular power delivery ecosystem built around its LightGrid orbital architecture. The core system consists of solar-collecting satellites in lunar orbit (LightGrid) that transmit power via laser to compact receivers (LightPort) integrated into landers, rovers, and other lunar infrastructure. Supporting products include drone-mounted LightPort for Earth-based applications and Power-Over-Fiber technology for terrestrial defense and emergency use cases. The company is developing LEPTON for lunar surface power demonstration in 2028.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LightGrid: Orbital architecture for transferring power wirelessly to assets on the lunar surface
- LightPort
- LEPTON (Laser-Enabled Power Transmission Orbital Network)
- Powerletter
Products and services
- LightGrid A planned network of solar-collecting satellites in lunar orbit that transmit energy via laser to surface receivers (LightPorts), enabling lunar surface assets to survive the 14-day lunar night. Sold to lunar mission operators as a long-term orbital power infrastructure.
- LightPort Receiver A compact and highly efficient optical power receiver weighing under 2 kg with a 30 cm diameter that supplies more than 100 W for multiple years in extreme lunar environments. Delivers 5x the specific power of an RTG at 1/10th the mass of lunar-night-capable batteries; available for lunar surface and drone applications.
- Power-Over-Fiber (PoF) Power delivery technology using laser energy transmitted over fiber optic cable for terrestrial applications including emergency response, tactical operations, and cold-climate drone charging. Validated with a 1 km world-record demonstration and Arctic drone operation at -40°C for 2.5 hours.
- Drone LightPort A drone-mounted variant of the LightPort optical power receiver designed to support the harshest environments such as Arctic operations, enabling increased mission lifetime, data collection, and payload capacity for unmanned aerial systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100x mission life extension for lunar operations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Volta Space Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Volta Space Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Volta Space Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DcubedcoreVolta selected as hosted payload on ARAQYS-D3 mission launching to LEO in 2027. Exercise multiple core elements of orbital power beaming architecture including laser transmission, power conversion, thermal management, and data processing in space environment.
- U.S. Naval Research LaboratorycoreLEPTON project (Laser-Enabled Power Transmission Orbital Network) for demonstrating optical wireless power transfer from low lunar orbit to lunar surface. Funded by Department of War's Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund, in collaboration with NASA.
- Firefly AerospacecoreLightPort receiver integrated as payload on Blue Ghost Mission 2 lunar lander. Mission targets far side of Moon launch in late 2026. Firefly hosting Volta's wireless power receiver to demonstrate how surface users can tap into Volta's lunar power grid.
- Canadian Space AgencycoreAwarded CAD $978,822 through STDP program. Also selected to lead multidisciplinary study on future exploration architectures. Partnership advancing lunar power infrastructure development.
- NATO DIANA AcceleratorcoreSelected to NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Challenge Programme. Advancing novel optical-power solution for small uncrewed aerial systems.
- NASAcoreNASA STTR Phase I contract awarded. Also involved in Watts on the Moon Challenge. LEPTON project in collaboration with NASA. NASA awarded $500K in first phase of $5M Watts on the Moon Challenge.
- ESAminorEuropean Space Agency supporting Volta's optical wireless power transmission technology development.
- ispace USminorStrategic joint 'Survive the Night' capability agreement for lunar missions. Collaboration on enabling lunar missions to survive the challenging lunar night conditions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Volta Space Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Volta Space Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Volta Space Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Volta Space Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Volta Space Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Volta Space Technologies
What does Volta Space Technologies do?
Volta Space Technologies develops an Optical Wireless Power Transmission (OWPT) system that beams laser-based power from solar-collecting satellites in lunar orbit to compact surface receivers, enabling lunar landers, rovers, and surface equipment to operate through the 14-day lunar night. The offering centers on the LightGrid orbital constellation paired with the LightPort receiver, with supporting products including Drone LightPort for unmanned aerial systems and Power-Over-Fiber technology for terrestrial defense and emergency applications. The LEPTON program with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory targets a 2028 demonstration of power transfer from low lunar orbit to the lunar surface.
Is Volta Space Technologies a public or private company?
Volta Space Technologies is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Volta Space Technologies founded?
Volta Space Technologies was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Volta Space Technologies based?
Volta Space Technologies is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Volta Space Technologies make money?
One revenue line is on record: power-as-a-Service (PaaS).
Does Volta Space Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Volta Space Technologies.
What industry is Volta Space Technologies in?
Volta Space Technologies's product category is Space Power Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAH, Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS). Its NAICS code is 5174 and its SIC code is 3760.