Meyer Burger and Solestial Sign Strategic Manufacturing Partnership to Scale the Production of Next-Generation Ultra-Thin Silicon Solar Cells for Space

Meyer Burger Technology AG / Key word(s): Partnership Meyer Burger and Solestial Sign Strategic Manufacturing Partnership to Scale the Production of Next-Generation Ultra-Thin Silicon Solar Cells for Space 05.08.2024 / 18:00 CET/CEST Media release Thun, Switzerland – August 05, 2024

Meyer Burger and Solestial Sign Strategic Manufacturing Partnership to Scale the Production of Next-Generation Ultra-Thin Silicon Solar Cells for Space

• 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 1^st 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.