PVTIME – Hanwha Solutions and Hanwha Systems have signed a joint development agreement to advance the production of highly efficient perovskite-silicon tandem cells for use in satellite power systems. This marks Hanwha’s formal entry into the space power market.
Hanwha Systems will invest KRW 30 billion (approximately USD 20 million) in a research programme running from 2026 to 2028. According to the terms of the agreement, Hanwha Solutions will oversee the research until 2028. Activities will focus on optimising the design and performance of high-efficiency cells, verifying their reliability under space conditions and developing power solutions optimised for very-low-Earth-orbit operations, where lightweight construction and resilience to harsh orbital environments are critical requirements.
The partners plan to conduct an in-orbit demonstration in 2028 to validate the technology under real-world space conditions. Their commercialisation roadmap involves integrating the tandem cells within Hanwha Systems’ planned constellation of 64 very-low-Earth-orbit synthetic-aperture radar satellites. The satellite fleet, which is capable of detecting ground objects as small as 15 cm, is scheduled to begin deployment in 2029. The companies also intend to adapt the technology for use in other orbital environments, including low-Earth-orbit and medium-Earth-orbit applications.
This satellite power project is being developed alongside a dedicated space solar unit, which was established by Hanwha within its technology division in June 2026. The team is recruiting experts in space-grade materials, satellite design, and space-environment reliability, and there are plans to set up a research centre in the United States. This initiative builds on Hanwha’s existing portfolio of terrestrial and space-focused perovskite-silicon tandem technologies. Its full-size M10 tandem cell has achieved a certified efficiency of 28.6%. Hanwha is the first company to obtain TÜV Rheinland certification confirming that its tandem modules comply with both IEC and UL standards. The firm also supplies tandem solar cells for the NASA-supported SSTEF-1 lunar lander mission, which is led by the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
This collaboration combines Hanwha Solutions’ expertise in manufacturing terrestrial tandem cells with Hanwha Systems’ capabilities in satellites and defence systems, securing a market position within the space power sector. Traditionally, space-qualified, high-performance solar cells carry costs around one hundred times those of terrestrial photovoltaic modules due to specialised, low-volume production. Hanwha aims to leverage its existing, large-scale tandem-cell manufacturing base to deliver a more cost-effective route to space-certified power systems.
