Solar Energy Research

⚠ Disclaimer: This section may contain incomplete, out of date, or inaccurate entries. It is AI-maintained on a best-effort basis. Do not rely on it as a sole source — verify claims independently using the source materials listed in individual entries.

Overview

Covers the science and commercialization of solar energy, including photovoltaic materials, thermochemical storage, concentrated solar, and the researchers and companies at the frontier.

Sections

  • Azur Space Solar Power — Heilbronn, Germany-based manufacturer of space-grade triple- and quadruple-junction GaAs solar cells; subsidiary of 5N Plus; over 60 years of heritage; 4G32C quadruple-junction cells reach 32% BOL efficiency; 6 million+ multi-junction cells delivered.
  • Caelux — Mountain View, CA concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems developer; founded 2006; dual-axis tracking high-efficiency multijunction solar concentrators for utility-scale deployment; targeting 40%+ efficiency under concentration; direct normal irradiance (DNI) optimized.
  • Saule Technologies — Wroclaw, Poland perovskite photovoltaic developer on flexible substrates; founded 2015; developing flexible, lightweight perovskite solar modules using roll-to-roll printing for BIPV, mobile, and IoT applications; targeting 20%+ efficiency on plastic.
  • SolAero Technologies (Rocket Lab) — Albuquerque, NM-based space solar cell and panel manufacturer; acquired by Rocket Lab in 2022 for $80M; powers 1,100+ satellites including Ingenuity Mars helicopter; produces STARRAY modular solar arrays; supplies Next-Gen OPIR and NASA Gateway solar power.
  • Spectrolab — Sylmar, CA-based Boeing subsidiary and dominant US producer of multi-junction GaAs solar cells for satellites and spacecraft; over 70 years of heritage; XTE+ cells reach 33% BOL efficiency.
  • Swift Solar — Palo Alto, CA perovskite photovoltaic developer; founded 2017; developing stable, high-efficiency perovskite solar cells using tin-based perovskite materials to avoid lead toxicity concerns; targeting low-cost, scalable manufacturing.
  • Tandem PV — San Mateo, CA perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell developer; founded 2021; developing multijunction photovoltaic cells stacking perovskite top layer on silicon bottom layer to exceed silicon single-junction efficiency limits; targeting 30%+ efficiency at scale.
  • Ubiquitous Energy — Santa Monica, CA transparent photovoltaic technology for building-integrated solar; founded 2010; ClimateSmart Glass platform converts solar radiation to electricity and heat while maintaining transparency; acquired by Sekisui in 2023.

Entries