Space Solar Cells: III-V Multi-Junction
Who makes the high-efficiency solar cells that power long-life satellites, how much can they make, and is it enough?
Chapter summary
almost every geostationary, defence and science satellite flies III-V multi-junction solar cells: stacks of gallium-arsenide-family layers grown on germanium wafers, converting about 30% or more of sunlight into electricity, against roughly 20–24% for good silicon.
Key takeaways
- 1
A few firms make them: Azur Space (Germany, owned by 5N Plus), Spectrolab (Boeing, US), Rocket Lab's SolAero (US), and others in Europe, Japan and China.
- 2
Their output is counted in megawatts a year; one analyst estimate put global GaAs space cell capacity around 2 MW, and lead times of a year or more are reported.
- 3
Large constellations needing tens of megawatts a year cannot use them and fly silicon instead (Chapter 12).
Keep reading with Space access
This chapter (2 exhibits, 786 words) is part of Space & aerospace. Space access opens every chapter of all 11 Space reports, with the interactive models, Excel downloads, Ask and named Atlas records.
- Global Market Analysis: Deep Space Economy
- Space-Based Datacenters: Feasibility Study
- Commercial Space Stations: Feasibility Study
- Defence Space and Missile Defence: Golden Dome and the SDA Architecture
- Launch After Starship: Prices, Capacity and European Sovereign Launch, 2026–2035
- Satellites to Phones: Direct-to-Device Connectivity, Spectrum and Economics, 2026–2035
- Space Supply Chain Bottlenecks: Components, Minerals and Capacity, 2026–2030
- Lunar, Cislunar and Settlement Economics: What the Moon Costs and Who Pays, 2026–2060
- Earth Observation and AI Analytics: What a Square Kilometre Is Worth and Who Captures It, 2026–2035
- In-Space Manufacturing and Microgravity Biotech: Products, Platforms and Economics, 2026–2035
- Space-Based Solar Power: Physics, Costs and the Path to Firm Power from Orbit, 2026–2050
€199 a month or €1,490 a year per sector, after a 7-day free trial. Cancel any time. Need several sectors? All sectors: €999 a month.
The EEE Parts Problem: Memories, Power Parts and Obsolescence
Next →Silicon, Perovskites and the Challengers to III-V Cells
Check the live record Space Contracts & Tender Radar · Constellation Deployment Monitor · Space Claim Check (free)
Ask about this chapter
Answers drawn from every Setcoin report and the live Atlas. Each statement links to the passage behind it.
Ask is included with every subscription
Cited answers across every report and the Atlas, with follow-up questions and a hand-off to the opportunity finder.
Research for professional investors. Not investment advice, and not an offer of any security or fund interest.