energy

Musk Says 100 GW of Orbital Solar Matches 800 GW on the Ground

Elon Musk argues orbital solar is not comparable to ground-based power as SpaceX builds space data centers and orders solar equipment from Singulus.

the same feed is available to bots and dashboards through the api. connect the api →

what happened

SpaceX chief Elon Musk, according to Stocktwits, has rejected comparisons between solar generation in orbit and on land as the company expands its plans for space-based data centers. In a post on X, he wrote that 100 GW in space is roughly the same as 800 GW on Earth. He also argued that ground solar needs large battery banks to run computing overnight, plus gas or nuclear backup in winter, and concluded the two options are fundamentally different.

The remark follows a deal with German equipment maker Singulus Technologies. The company confirmed a contract above €60 million to deliver a turnkey heterojunction (HJT) solar-cell line to SpaceX, with delivery planned for the first half of 2027 at a site in Bastrop, Texas. Musk has said the wider order calls for HJT manufacturing equipment at 100 GW per year. Singulus will develop high-efficiency cells and production tools for the Starmind satellites, a planned constellation meant to run AI workloads in orbit.

SpaceX has asked the FCC for permission to operate up to one million Starmind satellites, with first launches expected in the second half of next year. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment on SPCX stayed bullish over the past day, while message volume dropped from high to normal. The stock traded near $137, above its June IPO price of $135 but well below its all-time high near $225.

why it matters

For energy and space-tech investors, the main point is demand for solar equipment tied to SpaceX's orbital computing plans. The project is still early: launches are slated for next year, and the figures come from company statements and regulatory filings rather than audited results. Market participants tracking SPCX will watch whether the Singulus contract and the FCC application turn into firm orders and a launch timetable.

market impact

SPCX: news on solar equipment and orbital data centers supports interest in the stock, but the revenue effect is still unclear

tags

instruments

SPCX ↗Solar equipmentSingulus Technologies

on polymarket

sources

  1. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Says 100GW Of Solar Power In Space Could Match 800GW On Earth For Starmind — Stocktwits, 12 November 2026 at 00:01 UTC

prepared by the newsmetry newsroom with ai assistance from the sources listed below. not investment advice.

alerts on your topics, the morning digest and the api — in your account.

get stories in real time ↗