Mitsubishi Electric, through its ME Innovation Fund, has invested in Arizona based Solestial – a startup specialising in the development and production of solar cells for space applications using advanced silicon technology.
In recent years, the miniaturisation and cost reduction of satellites have resulted in rapid growth in the deployment of constellations in low Earth orbit.
As the number of satellite launches continues to rise sharply, there is growing concern that the supply of solar cells, an essential component of satellites, will not be able to keep pace with demand.
Solestial develops and manufactures solar cells for space applications using silicon heterojunction technology for manufacturing solar cells by joining semiconductor materials with different physical properties.
Compared to conventional products, these cells are expected to provide a wide range of advantages, including improved radiation resistance, reduced costs, quicker delivery and decreased weight.
By investing in Solestial, Mitsubishi Electric aims to enhance the competitiveness of its space business by leveraging Solestial’s high-performance solar cell technology.
Margo de Naray, CEO, Solestial, said: “Our technology is very meaningful for the future of the space industry and through our partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, we will further accelerate our technological development.”
Komi Matsubara, Executive Officer (Vice President, Business Innovation), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, said: “We see tremendous potential in Solestial’s innovative silicon technology. We are dedicated to maximizing the synergies between our companies and supporting the growth of the space industry.”
