Hanwha Solutions' Q CELLS division announced on July 15 that it has signed a contract with Hanwha Systems to develop high-efficiency solar cells and panels for satellites, marking a significant step toward securing next-generation solar technology for space.
This collaboration combines Hanwha Systems' space capabilities with Hanwha Solutions' expertise in high-efficiency solar cell technology and mass production, expanding its reach into the space sector.
As the global space industry shifts towards low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite clusters and AI-driven data services, the importance of power solutions that influence satellite performance and mission sustainability has become increasingly evident. In response, Hanwha Solutions plans to focus on implementing integrated power solutions optimized for the space environment in collaboration with Hanwha Systems, a defense and space specialist.
Under the agreement, Hanwha Systems will invest approximately 30 billion won in research and development for tandem solar cells for satellites over a period of about 2.5 years, from 2026 to 2028.
During this period, Hanwha Solutions will conduct key R&D activities, including the design and performance enhancement of high-efficiency cells and reliability testing in space environments. The two companies aim to secure power solution technologies applicable to satellite environments and lay the groundwork for future commercialization.
Hanwha Solutions will particularly focus on developing next-generation technologies, including tandem-based high-efficiency solar cells, to maximize performance in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) environments. This environment demands simultaneous efficiency in power generation, structural lightweighting, and durability against radiation and atomic oxygen, leading to a strategy of internalizing capabilities for integrated power solutions for space.
After 2029, the two companies plan to begin full-scale commercialization by applying tandem cells to actual satellites in conjunction with Hanwha Systems' production of 64 VLEO ultra-high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites.
This collaboration is also significant for building a space value chain within the Hanwha Group. Hanwha Systems will handle satellite and SAR fields, Hanwha Aerospace will focus on space launch vehicles and engines, and Hanwha Solutions' Q CELLS will manage satellite power sources, thereby enhancing the group's competitiveness in the space business.
Park Seung-deok, head of Hanwha Solutions' Q CELLS division, stated, "This collaboration is an important starting point for expanding our accumulated high-efficiency solar cell technology into the space industry. We aim to enhance the performance and reliability of power solutions for satellites and, in the long term, create new growth opportunities in the global space power market based on the convergence of the space and renewable energy industries."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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