Flexible solar power for space

The challenge

Reliable power for lightweight spacecraft

All spacecraft need power. Missions to Earth orbit and the inner Solar System typically use solar panels that are rigid, heavy, and large in size. This can be a problem for smaller space missions, which often need to choose between higher launch costs or less available power. The available volume within a given launch vehicle can also be a limiting factor.

Our response

Lightweight, flexible solar panels printed from perovskite

We have been researching printed flexible solar cell technology for more than a decade. Our solar cells, made from a light-absorbing material known as perovskite, have delivered a record 11 per cent efficiency for 50 cm² fully-printed solar modules on Earth. This compares with a previous standard for fully-printed flexible solar cells of around two per cent.

Our printing technology uses a roll-to-roll technique similar to newspaper printing, which allows for continuous, large-scale production. Unlike some perovskite cells being developed, we have removed the need to use expensive metals like gold in production. which substantially reduces manufacturing costs.

The lightweight and flexible nature of our perovskite solar cells could provide an affordable means to generate power within the limited size and mass constraints of smaller space missions.

Simulated space radiation experiments indicate that the cells should survive the space environment.