Solestial, Meyer Burger partner to expand space solar technology production
Solestial has announced a strategic partnership with Meyer Burger Technology to increase the production of silicon solar technology. Solestial, based in Tempe, Arizona, specializes in radiation-resistant solar cells and flexible solar power modules designed for long-term space applications. Meyer Burger, a Swiss company, brings its expertise in manufacturing solar cells and modules to the partnership.
The collaboration aims to produce 1 MW of solar cells annually by mid-2025, a substantial increase from Solestial’s current output of less than 100 kW per year.
Solestial’s solar technology, which relies on sunlight to anneal radiation damage, received a boost from a $10 million funding round led by Airbus Ventures in 2022. The company also secured an agreement to supply solar arrays for space tugs developed by Atomos Space.
The partnership with Meyer Burger aims to “revolutionize space solar power” by delivering ultra-thin, reliable, radiation-hardened cells and modules at an unprecedented scale. Solestial will share its proprietary solar cell technology with Meyer Burger, which will produce the cells at its German manufacturing plant. These cells will then be sent to Solestial’s facility in Tempe, AZ, for metallization, finishing, and integration into flexible solar power modules.