Ben Nowack

Ben Nowack is the co-founder and CEO of Reflect Orbital, a space and energy startup in California that focuses on extending the useful aspects of solar power after the sun goes down. He started his career as a propulsion engineer intern at SpaceX, which helped him hone his skills and learn the science behind solar panels and mirrors. Then he went on to work as a But now, Ben is reshaping how the world thinks about solar energy and nighttime light. Just from visiting Reflect Orbital’s website, one can learn so much about what Ben’s business aims to complete and execute.

Reflect Orbital’s end goal is to provide light to the darkest corners of the world, utilizing the unlimited energy provided by the sun, even when the sun isn’t shining. The core concept is to launch reflector satellites into orbit that can redirect sunlight onto specific locations on Earth when it is nighttime at those parts of the world. The main application is to shine light onto solar farms after sunset so they can continue harvesting energy and generating electricity even when the sun isn’t shining.

By selling sunlight after dark, the company aims to reduce the reliance on battery installations and make renewable energy more dispatchable without building new power plants. The technology uses large, lightweight mirrors and is designed to focus light on the targeted region of their choosing.

Beyond powering solar panel farms, Ben has shared his ideas of using reflected sunlight to illuminate cities, industrial areas, and even agricultural regions that would benefit from the extended sunshine. The applications are endless with on-demand sunlight.