Dubai: Sunlight after dark? This entrepreneur wants to make solar energy limitless
Imagine a city that never dims, where factories hum with life even in the darkest hours and agricultural lands thrive under an endless sun. Picture a joystick controlling sunlight, reflecting it on demand at any moment. "We sell sunlight after dark," boldly declared Ben Nowack, co-founder and CEO of Reflect Orbital.
In January, Nowack showcased this innovative concept in a meeting with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE. When asked about Sheikh Hamdan's reaction, 'It was very positive,' Nowack told Khaleej Times on the second day of the World Government Summit.
For the UAE, a nation already investing heavily in solar energy and sustainability, Nowack believes that Reflect Orbital's technology could be a 'game-changer'. With its ambitious Vision 2021 and sustainability goals, the ability to harness sunlight beyond daylight hours aligns perfectly with the UAE's commitment to renewable energy. Nowack emphasised, "In Dubai, we could extend solar efficiency into the night, powering skyscrapers and industries long after the sun sets."
Nowack explained how his pioneering venture aims to illuminate urban landscapes, combat depression in sun-deprived cities, and revolutionise agriculture with a product that could essentially be described as "sunlight in a bottle." These innovations promise to ensure that sunlight reaches solar storage facilities even at night, effectively eliminating the challenges posed by the absence of daylight.
Reflecting on his experiences, Nowack stated, "Every society and civilisation reaches a tipping point where innovation meets necessity. We are in one of those transformative times, driven by rapid technological change." He elaborated on the potential of this technology to reshape industries and enhance lives.
But what does this mean for individuals? Nowack clarified that while the initial focus might be on larger-scale implementations, there is a vision for personal usage as well. "Imagine being able to purchase sunlight for your home during the dark winter months — perfect for those struggling with seasonal depression," he said. This concept extends to various sectors, from construction to agriculture, where the ability to access sunlight on demand could change the game entirely.
Nowack's approach raises questions about accessibility and regulation. "It's a case-by-case basis," he explained. "We're working with government leaders to ensure compliance and responsible distribution." He discussed potential applications — from illuminating construction sites to enhancing agricultural productivity.
Reflecting on the broader implications, Nowack emphasised that this technology could be pivotal in transitioning the world away from fossil fuels. "We are on the brink of becoming a Type II civilisation, one that harnesses the energy of the sun rather than depleting our planet's resources," he concluded.
Nowack, an innovator who thrives on tackling the impossible, has spent years challenging traditional energy paradigms. His fascination with energy consumption and sustainability led him to an extraordinary realisation: Moving sunlight is not only possible but immensely valuable. 'I used a megawatt-hour of electricity in a single month just experimenting, building steam engines, freeze-dryers, and even my own mirrors,' Nowack shared. 'And then it hit me — what if I'm part of the problem? What if the energy crisis isn't just about generation but about availability?'
Instead of accepting the limitations of traditional solar energy — which ceases production at night — Nowack envisioned an infrastructure where satellites equipped with reflective mirrors capture sunlight in space and beam it down to solar farms across the planet. The concept isn't entirely new. In 1992, Russian scientists successfully tested a 20-metre space reflector to illuminate the Earth. Nowack and his team have taken this vision further, integrating modern materials and scalable technology to create a dynamic system capable of delivering concentrated sunlight to any location on demand.
Reflect Orbital's system operates using fleets of lightweight, deployable mirrors in low-Earth orbit. By strategically positioning them, they can direct beams of sunlight onto designated areas, illuminating solar farms or urban spaces without the need for complex energy storage solutions. The technology allows for instantaneous adjustments, meaning that within 30 seconds, a bright spot of light can be redirected anywhere within an 800-kilometre radius.
'The sun already provides 5,000 times more energy than humanity has ever consumed,' Nowack noted. 'The challenge isn't generating power; it's getting it where it's needed, when it's needed. This is about making solar limitless.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Ballistic missiles 'keywords' at Paris Air Show as Israel-Iran conflict looms large
The Israel-Iran conflict loomed large over the Paris Air Show this week, accelerating talks on defence products and forcing airlines to suspend routes to the Middle East. The conflict brought a sense of urgency to the defence discussions at the event, which showcases the latest technology in defence and commercial aviation. 'Because of the geopolitical context and what is currently happening in the [Middle East] and a bit in Europe, a keyword here is ballistic and anti-ballistic [missiles],' Hervé Dammann, executive vice president of land and air systems at Thales, told The National on the sidelines of the show. 'How can we make sure our countries are protected well enough against ballistic and hypersonic threats – the two kinds of missiles that are currently believed to be in use in the Middle East? This is really the key topic of discussion: What do you need to detect, what do you need to intercept and which kind of system can be used. 'The mood here is the need to accelerate and implement those kind of capabilities. For the industry, it means that we need to be agile and ramp up production capacity. We need to find ways to accelerate putting solutions in the market, maybe in an incremental approach rather than waiting for having developed a full solution,' Mr Dammann said. In response to increasing customer demand, Thales has tripled the production of sensors in radars and quadrupled the production of effectors, he said. 'We are continuing to invest in support of the higher demand requests we have coming from many [ministries of defence], whether in the Middle East or in Europe or in Asia,' the Thales executive said. On the first day of the show, France's move to shut down the main Israeli company stands for refusing to remove attack weapons from display sparked a furious response from Israel. The show, which ends on Friday, displayed cutting-edge military technology and staged flight demonstrations that ripped through Le Bourget's blue skies. They were also a stark reminder of military capabilities used to deadly effect thousands of kilometres away in Tehran and Israel. 'We see it more as citizens at the moment: it is extremely worrying to see tensions and escalation in this region of the world,' Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defence and Space, said at a press briefing during the air show. 'For ethical reasons, I would say we refrain from making business interpretation out of it. Now, it is true that it is one more sign of an escalation somewhere in the world, which, overall, in military volumes, is leading the volumes up.' The European plane maker is pursuing potential new buyers, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, for its A400M military transport aircraft. Mr Dumont said there are 'quite intense' discussions with the UAE's air force, Tawazun and defence entities in the government. 'The discussions are very, very constructive,' he said. 'Now, it's a competition. The one who's going to win will be the supplier of the mobility of the future for the UAE. We believe we have the right solution, having an aircraft that is the strategic and tactical one.' Flight disruptions In the skies beyond Le Bourget airport, some US airlines began suspending daily flights to Gulf countries amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. American Airlines on Thursday suspended daily flights from Philadelphia to Doha until June 22. United Airlines temporarily halted services between its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Dubai and aims to resume 'when it's safe', according to its website. American Airlines' move comes after the US embassy in Qatar advised its personnel and US citizens in the country to 'keep a low profile' and 'stay alert' at locations publicly associated with the US. 'Out of an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities, the US Embassy has advised its personnel to exercise increased vigilance and has temporarily restricted access to Al Udeid Air Base. We recommend that US citizens in Qatar take similar precautions,' it said in a statement on its website. The US airlines' flight suspensions are the first disruptions on the doorstep of some of the region's busiest air hubs. Previous flight suspensions were limited to Israel, the countries surrounding it and the airspace above countries where Iranian missiles pass. Dubai and Doha are home to Emirates and Qatar Airways that use their strategic locations for long-haul travel, connecting passengers between the US, Europe and Asia. Emirates has suspended all flights to Amman and Beirut until June 22. Flight suspensions to Tehran, Baghdad and Basra will continue until June 30. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier flyadeal said it is experiencing only minimal disruptions. 'We've not had any significant impact as a result of airspace closure in parts of the region. While our flights to and from Amman have been cancelled until further notice, operationally, we're only experiencing minor disruptions with changes to flight routings on a few services to avoid the affected areas,' Steven Greenway, flyadeal's chief executive, told The National. 'With the upcoming peak summer season, we are preparing for a busy flying programme that will maximise our fleet utilisation.' The Israel-Iran attacks are the latest global conflict to ratchet up airlines' security concerns, while weighing on their operations and profitability. Airlines are grappling with airspace closures, threats from missiles, drones and GPS jamming. 'The big topics that we are facing is the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), so we see more and more … areas where the signal is not available or is spoofed,' Denis Bonnet, head of innovation research and technology at Thales, told reporters. 'We are working very hard with our [original equipment manufacturers] to make sure that we are more resilient to this … so it's becoming safer and safer.' The number of global positioning system (GPS) signal loss events increased by 220 per cent between 2021 and 2024, according to International Air Transport Association data. It is 'difficult to see this trend reversing in the near term', Iata said in a statement this week. Thales' flight management system, installed on more than 7,000 planes and cumulating more than 100 million flight hours, allows pilots to modify the flight trajectory quickly and simply, Mr Bonnet said. 'The capability we try to bring to airlines is to detect those threat areas and modify the trajectory … usually we prefer to do this before take-off,' he said. Another key topic is the use of satellite communications onboard aircraft, particularly in remote areas. 'When there is this huge tension between Israel and Iran, a lot of aircraft has to be re-routed and [satellite communications] have been absolutely vital to connect the crew in areas that are not really well covered by connectivity,' Mr Bonnet said. Airbus aircraft orders This Paris Air Show was unusually subdued following Air India's Boeing 787 crash, which created a sombre mood and kept Boeing's leadership away to focus on the accident investigation. Airbus secured firm orders for 142 aircraft. This does not include the six Airbus A350-900 announced by Egyptair at the show as this was a previously unidentified customer on Airbus' previous order reports. It also recorded 102 provisional orders that would increase its haul if airline customers choose to exercise those options. The firm orders are worth $14.2 billion including Egyptair's deal, plus 102 provisional orders worth $6.7 billion, Reuters reported, citing estimated delivery prices from UK-based Cirium Ascend. The air show is usually a hard-fought competition between the duopoly of plane makers. But Boeing had a quiet show as it chose to postpone any commercial announcements following the Air India crash just a few days before the expo. The 787 Dreamliner crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on June 12, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and at least 30 more people on the ground. Air India's Boeing plane was 'well-maintained' before it crashed a week ago, AFP reported, citing an airline statement on Thursday. Indian authorities have yet to reveal the cause of the crash as investigators work to retrieve data from the plane's black boxes – the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
'No need to leave': Dubai Marina fire victims to continue at shelters after KT report
Hundreds of Marina Pinnacle fire victims who were earlier asked to vacate their temporary shelters by noon on Friday, June 20, can finally breathe a little easier. An official from Bunat Al Mustaqbil Owners Association, which manages Marina Pinnacle Tower (also known as Tiger Tower), confirmed to Khaleej Times on Friday that accommodation for all displaced residents has now been extended until further notice. 'Yes, we have extended for everyone until further notice,' the official said, without offering further details. The move comes hours after Khaleej Times reported that nearly 350 residents across four locations—Millennium Al Barsha, Samaya Hotel Apartments in Wadi Al Safa 3, Samaya Hotel in Deira, and Nobles Tower in Business Bay—had been given notices asking them to vacate by 12 noon on June 20. At Millennium Al Barsha, residents said they were informed by staff that they were no longer required to leave. MZ, who is staying at the hotel, told Khaleej Times: 'The staff at the reception told me not to worry. They said we don't need to check out and can stay for now. It was a huge relief.' Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Another Marina Pinnacle Tower resident staying at Nobles Tower, a 53-storey building in Business Bay, said: 'Building security staff went around all the apartments. They said police told them no one has to leave. Management has asked them to collect our details like IDs and tenancy contracts so that's what they're doing,' she said. At Samaya Hotel Apartments in Wadi Al Safa, where this journalist visited on Thursday evening, anxious residents expressed relief. 'We've been sitting with our bags packed all morning,' said one man. 'Now they've told us we can stay, and we're thankful. But we still need clarity. Some sort of written assurance would help.' Confusion, however, persists at Samaya Hotel in Deira, where not all residents have received clear instructions. 'A security staff member said we're staying. There's been no official notice, but I think it must be true as it's past noon and I'm still here,' said one resident. Help continues to pour Meanwhile, support efforts continue for those without any housing. A WhatsApp group called 'Accommodation for Tiger Towers', started by Australian expat Sevgi Anar, has become a lifeline for scores still stranded. Anar, who lives across from the fire-ravaged building, has been negotiating discounted rates with hotels and matching those in need with individuals offering spare rooms. 'Many of the people who need help were in shared accommodations. It's a huge challenge, but we're not giving up,' she said, while helping a couple check into a hotel on Friday afternoon. 'People are still stepping up. The community spirit is incredible.' On June 13, a massive fire broke out at Marina Pinnacle Tower, a 67-storey residential skyscraper in Dubai Marina also referred to locally as Tiger Tower. The fire erupted around 9.30pm and was brought under control by early morning. The Dubai Media Office later confirmed that all 3,820 residents from 764 apartments had been safely evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
EU to lift EIB lending limit to $115bln in defence push
LONDON/BRUSSELS - EU governments have agreed to lift the annual spending of the bloc's powerful European Investment Bank (EIB) lending arm to 100 billion euros ($115 billion) this year and treble its funding for the EU's defence industry. Sources briefed on the plans said the decision was approved at an EIB board meeting in Luxembourg ahead of a formal sign-off expected by EU finance ministers later on Friday. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not yet public. The new 100 billion euro annual spending ceiling is more than 10 billion euros above the amount the EIB lent last year and 5 billion higher than 95 billion euros the bank's President Nadia Calvino set as a target at the start of the year. It will also allow it to more than treble its funding for defence-related projects. The amount will go up 3.5 billion euros from 1 billion euros last year and be well above the 2 billion euros it had flagged would be spent back in January, the sources said. The EIB is prohibited from investing directly in weapons or ammunition but it can lend for so-called "dual use" purposes, such as GPS systems or buildings and infrastructure for army bases. It has signed off on funding for one such base in Lithuania near the border with Belarus where German troops are due to be permanently deployed on foreign soil for the first time since the Nazi military in World War II. European nations are scrambling to ramp up their defence spending amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump who has signalled plans to reduce the decades-long U.S. security backstop for the continent. It also comes just days before a NATO summit in The Hague where the alliance's members are under pressure to raise their defence commitments. The increased EIB lending is set to funnel money into other areas as well, the sources said, including technology innovation and renewable energy. It follows a mid-year review of its operational plan and comes after it got approval last year to raise its so-called gearing ratio, which sets out a nominal maximum for the amount of loans on its balance sheet as a percentage of its subscribed capital. EU officials said the bank, already the biggest multilateral lender in the world, is also likely to announce plans to pump 70 billion euros into the development of European technology firms over the next three years. The programme, called Tech EU, aims to help Europe better compete with China and the United States in the race for cutting-edge tech like supercomputing, robotics and artificial intelligence as well as renewable energy. The 70 billion euros funding is to be split into 20 billion euros for equity and quasi-equity, 40 billion euros for loans and 10 billion for guarantees in 2025-2027, the officials said. They hope the money to mobilise a further 250 billion euros of private investor funding and complement broader European Commission efforts to support startups and higher risk ventures. ($1 = 0.8727 euros)
