Are solar cells a reliable energy source for aerospace applications?

Solar cells (SCs) are the most ubiquitous and reliable energy generation systems for aerospace applications. Nowadays, III–V multijunction solar cells (MJSCs) represent the standard commercial technology for powering spacecraft, thanks to their high-power conversion efficiency and certified reliability/stability while operating in orbit.

Which companies are working on space-based solar power?

ESA Virtus Solis, based in Michigan, and Space Solar in the United Kingdom are among several start-ups working on space-based solar power.

What new technologies are being developed for space-qualified power generation?

New technologies continue to be developed for space-qualified power generation. Promising technologies applicable to small spacecraft include advanced multi-junction, flexible and organic solar cells, hydrogen fuel cells, and a variety of thermo-nuclear and atomic battery power sources.

Who invented orbital solar power plant?

First proposed in 1968 by Peter Glaser, a Czech-American scientist and aerospace engineer, the concept of an orbital solar power plant has been a popular aspiration among spacefaring parties such as the United States, the European Space Agency and Japan, but technological and financial hurdles limited its development until recent years.

Why are triple-junction solar cells used in aerospace industry?

However, in the aerospace industry, triple-junction cells are commonly used due to their high efficiency-to-cost ratio compared to other cells. The current state of the art for space solar cells are multi-junction cells ranging from 3 to 5 junctions based on Group III-V semiconductor elements (like GaAs).

Which Si-based devices have the highest EOL power?

A recent work by Yamaguchi et al. showed that, although conventional Si-based devices show a lower BOL power (Figure 7c), they have the highest EOL power among several high performance designs, including BSF, BSR, and BSFR (Figure 7d).