New Partnership to Lead Innovation in Space Solar Technology

Imagine building solar panels so light, they barely add any weight to a rocket — and yet powerful enough to keep satellites and space factories running for years. That’s exactly what scientists from Loughborough and Swansea universities are now working on. In a joint mission that could redefine how we power things in orbit, the two institutions have teamed up to create ultra-thin solar cells using a material called cadmium telluride (CdTe), applied directly onto glass thinner than a strand of human hair.

The aim? To deliver a lighter, cheaper, and more durable alternative to the solar technologies currently used in space. If this works as planned, it could be one of the most important shifts in space energy systems in years — and one that gives the UK a serious edge in the booming space economy.

Right now, powering things in space is still an expensive affair. Most missions use multi-junction solar cells (MJSCs), which are great at turning sunlight into electricity, but they’re complex to make and cost a fortune. They also weigh more than you'd like when every extra gram on a rocket adds thousands of pounds to the bill.

That’s where this new CdTe-on-glass technology comes in. It’s light enough to slash launch costs, simple enough to scale, and tough enough to handle the punishing radiation of space. That last part is especially important — because once you’re out there, there’s no quick repair shop for damaged solar panels.

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And it’s not just theory. The concept has already been tested once in space, on a CubeSat mission called AlSat-Nano. The results were promising. On Earth, these cells have hit an impressive 23.1% efficiency. In orbit, researchers are now targeting a solid 20%, which is more than enough to meet the demands of future space platforms — especially if you can produce these panels by the kilometre.

There’s good reason to hurry. According to the European Space Agency, the demand for solar power in space is expected to jump from just 1 megawatt per year now to a staggering 10 gigawatts by 2035. That’s a thousand-fold rise — driven by thousands of new satellites, mega-constellations like Starlink, and the coming era of space-based manufacturing, from microchips to high-speed fibre.

Behind this new solar push is serious UK infrastructure. Swansea University brings to the table its advanced Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM), complete with a cutting-edge AIXTRON reactor for fabricating semiconductors with atomic precision. Meanwhile, Loughborough University contributes its solar research powerhouse, CREST, and a national-level lab that lets researchers examine how electrons behave inside solar cells at microscopic levels.

Michael Walls, a leading photovoltaics expert at Loughborough, explains the project’s goal in simple terms: reduce weight, reduce cost, and extend the life of solar systems in orbit. “If we can deposit these thin-film cells directly onto the protective glass that already goes into satellites, we cut down material, reduce launch weight, and still deliver reliable power,” he said. “And because CdTe is highly radiation-resistant, these cells will last longer, even in harsh space conditions.”

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Paul Meredith, Director of CISM, said this collaboration is part of a bigger UK move into space semiconductor tech. His team has already been pushing the boundaries with the UK’s first dedicated Space Semi-Tech Foundry. “This partnership is about more than just science,” he said. “It’s about helping the UK take a leading role in the space tech market. We’re offering longer-lasting, lighter, and lower-cost solutions — exactly what’s needed for the next generation of missions.”

But here’s the exciting part — what works in space might end up benefiting us back on Earth too. If CdTe-on-glass solar cells prove their worth in orbit, they could easily find their way into solar farms, rooftops, or even wearable electronics here at home. Technologies tested in space often become tomorrow’s consumer tools — and thin-film solar might be next in line.

More broadly, this is a sign of how fast the UK space sector is evolving. Just a decade ago, most of this research would’ve been locked in academic labs. Today, it's being backed by national funding (UKRI EPSRC), supported by world-class research infrastructure, and driven by a clear market need.

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Solar power has always been the most logical energy source for space. But until now, it's been held back by cost, weight, and complexity. This new collaboration, combining Loughborough’s solar expertise and Swansea’s semiconductor strength, might just crack that puzzle — and open the door to truly scalable, affordable space power.

Whether it’s powering a network of satellites orbiting Earth or providing electricity to a future Moon base, the idea is the same: harness sunlight efficiently, without adding extra baggage to the rocket.

If successful, these paper-thin, space-hardened solar cells might soon be silently capturing sunlight above our atmosphere quietly powering the future.