Mitsubishi Electric to lead the Jaxa Fund project on the next generation of solar cells for satellites
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Tokyo: 6503) has been chosen as a representative organization under the Space Strategy Fund of Jaxa for the “Development of Domestic Solar cells, Glass and Solar Panels” initiative, part of the first phase program of the Agency to Strengthen the Satellite Component Supply. A formal contract is signed with Jaxa.
Rising demand for satellite solar cells and protective cover glass in particular with the growth of low earth-baan constellations-in, has shortages, high prices and longer delivery times worldwide. The project is intended to reduce these problems by promoting cost -effective, mass -producable solar technology in Japan.
Mitsubishi Electric will collaborate with domestic suppliers to develop new solar cells that are optimized for affordability and scalability. The company will also test glass that is currently used in ground products for the durability of space, with the aim of making cheap mass production of satellite covering glass possible. These progress will be integrated into newly designed solar panels, creating a fully domestic production path.
An important element of the program is the partnership of Mitsubishi Electric with the Japan -based PXP Corporation, which specializes in advanced sun technologies such as Perovskite and Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS). Together they will pursue perovskiet/cigs tandem cells that combine the benefits of both technologies. These cells of the next generation correspond to the efficiency of conventional designs and offer a larger radiation resistance, simpler production and lower costs.
By combining PXP’s expertise in the field of solar cell with the extensive experience of Mitsubishi Electric in satellite systems, the collaboration on scale with high reliability, very efficient solar cells on a scale aims. This combination is expected to strengthen, strengthen the costs, reduce the costs and strengthen the resilience of the delivery.
“We are very happy that we have been selected as a representative organization for the Space Strategy Fund,” says Natsuki Asano, senior manager at Kamakura Works from Mitsubishi Electric. “Due to the practical implementation of solar arrays equipped with solar cells produced in our own country and cover glass that are balanced between low costs and high performance, while making sure that resistance to the space environment and mass production makes us help to enhance the satellite supply chain of the landscape of the landscape.”
