The co-produced cells will leverage Meyer Burger’s manufacturing and high quality expertise to unlock broad-scale production of Solestial’s innovative silicon photovoltaic technology for space applications.
Combining Meyer Burger’s heterojunction technology with Solestial’s space-focused silicon solar cell and module innovations will deliver superior performance for spacecraft and space infrastructure projects
Meyer Burger Technology AG (“Meyer Burger”), a leader in advanced solar cell and module technology, and Solestial Inc. (“Solestial”), the solar energy company for space, today announced a strategic partnership to scale the production of next-generation silicon solar technology for space. The partnership will revolutionize space solar power by enabling Solestial to deliver ultra-thin, reliable, radiation-hardened cells and modules at unprecedented scale.
Solestial’s core competency lies in its unique IP for radiation-resistant solar cells and flexible solar power modules, optimized for long-term performance in the harsh conditions of space. By combining Meyer Burger’s advanced silicon heterojunction technology with Solestial’s proprietary defect engineering and metallization processes result in solar cells that offer the efficiency, and reliability required to meet the stringent demands of in orbit operations.
Under the strategic partnership agreement, Meyer Burger will receive proprietary ultra-thin, radiation-hardened silicon wafers from Solestial, then apply its market-leading silicon heterojunction technology and return to Solestial’s facility in Tempe, AZ for solar cell metallization, finishing, and integration into flexible solar power modules. The volume of wafers Meyer Burger will process allows Solestial to deliver enough solar modules to power hundreds of spacecrafts per year by mid-2025. The start of the processing is expected by September 1st of this year. This partnership underscores the mutual respect shared by both for innovation and robust R&D teams, advancing the industry through partnership and collaboration.
"Meyer Burger stretches into industries that need our proprietary know-how and advanced technologies. By excelling at every stage of product development, we help companies like Solestial scale, and support them as they grow," said Gunter Erfurt, CEO of Meyer Burger.
“This partnership with Meyer Burger allows Solestial to take the next step in scaling production, delivering for our customers, and meeting the ever-growing demand for reliable, cost-effective, and abundant energy in space,” said Stan Herasimenka, CEO of Solestial.
Saurav Shroff, CEO at Starpath, a technology company building industrial scale infrastructure in space, added, "At yesterday's cost and production scale of space-capable solar, our mission would be prohibitively expensive to accomplish. Solestial's solar technology is an unlock for Starpath and, we believe, for other next generation space infrastructure providers. We are excited to see Solestial partner with Meyer Burger to bring low-cost, space-capable solar power to market at extremely large scale."
