Meyer Burger and Solestial plan to produce solar panels for use in space applications
They target to achieve a 1 MW annual production capacity by mid-2025 which will be enough to power hundreds of spacecraft
Meyer Burger will use its silicon HJT technology for use on Solestial wafers to be integrated into flexible modules
Heterojunction (HJT) solar cell and module producer Meyer Burger Technology AG, and space-focused solar energy company Solestial Inc., have unveiled plans to produce next-generation silicon solar modules for use in space applications.
By mid-2025, hundreds of spacecraft can be powered by the modules produced under the partnership, they claim.
As per the strategic partnership agreement, US-based Solestial will supply its proprietary ultra-thin, radiation-hardened silicon wafers that can perform in the harsh conditions of space, for Meyer Burger to apply its silicon HJT technology.
These cells will then come back to Solestial’s Tempe, Arizona fab for solar cell metallization, finishing and integration into flexible solar power modules. Processing is expected to begin by September 1, 2024. By mid of next year, they expect to scale production to 1 MW annually.
Solestial claims its silicon solar cells are engineered for space to self-cure radiation damage under sunlight at operating temperatures as low as 65°C. Compared to traditional III-V multijunction solar products, flexible power modules can be produced on automated machines for 90% lower costs.
Their partnership will bring ‘low-cost, space-capable, solar power to market at extremely large scale.’
Like Solestial, Meyer Burger is also stationed in Arizona where it recently started production of its HJT modules (see Meyer Burger’s Arizona Module Factory Starts Production).