New collaboration to pioneer solar technology for space

EnergyEngineeringSustainability
An image of the small square cell developed by Loughborough and Swansea

Loughborough and Swansea universities have joined forces on a pioneering mission to transform solar power in space by developing lightweight cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells on ultra-thin glass – a game-changing technology set to revolutionise energy systems for satellites and space-based manufacturing.

With the global space industry booming—valued at £17.5 billion in the UK alone—the demand for efficient, scalable solar power is rapidly growing.

The European Space Agency predicts a leap from just 1 MWp/year to 10 GWp/year of space solar demand by 2035, driven by expansion of satellite constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink and the rise of space-based manufacturing, including semiconductors and fiber optics.

Currently, space missions rely on either silicon or multi-junction solar cells (MJSCs), with MJSCs dominating due to their high efficiency, but their complex manufacturing and high costs limit scalability.

The new CdTe-on-glass technology, first tested in space aboard the AlSat-Nano CubeSat, offers a lighter, cheaper, and highly radiation-resistant alternative, targeting 20% efficiency in space and already achieving 23.1% on Earth.

The new three-year collaboration is supported by UKRI EPSRC funding and leverages world-class facilities at both universities.

Swansea’s Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) houses advanced tools like the AIXTRON CCS MOCVD system, while Loughborough contributes its National Facility for High-Resolution Cathodoluminescence Analysis, essential for studying solar and optoelectronic devices.

Commenting on the collaboration, Michael Walls, Professor of Photovoltaics in Loughborough’s Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) said "Space technology is an exciting growth industry.   Reducing the weight of the payload is critical to reduce launch costs.

“This project aims to develop a lower weight power source by depositing thin film solar cells directly onto the protective cover glass. The technology will also enable longer deployment in space because thin film cadmium telluride solar cells are exceptionally radiation-hard.”

Professor Paul Meredith, Director of CISM at Swansea University said: “CISM has previously focused on clean energy, efficient power and microelectronics, semiconductors in healthcare, and over-the-horizon semiconductors, but more recently it has been expanding into the development of semiconductor technology for space applications through our UK-first Space Semi-Tech Foundry programme.

“This latest partnership is an example of this as it addresses a critical need and a unique opportunity to support the UK’s strategic vision to capture a significant share of the global space technology market.

“Our technology offers higher specific power, longer service life in space, and significantly lower costs—key advantages for powering the next generation of space missions.”

The project also benefits from strong industry backing, with six partners contributing technical expertise and in-kind support valued at £112,000. The partners are: 5N Plus Inc. (Canada); AIXTRON (UK); CTF Solar GmbH (Germany); Teledyne Qioptiq (UK); Manufacturing Technology Centre (UK), and Satellite Applications.

ENDS

Picture: Highly uniform CdTe photovoltaic material deposited by close-coupled showerhead MOCVD

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 25/106

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.

Loughborough is ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2026, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

Founded in 1920, Swansea University is a research-led institution with two campuses along Swansea Bay in South Wales, UK. Its scenic beachfront location and welcoming atmosphere attract more than 28,000 students from around the world. The University offers approximately 450 undergraduate and 350 postgraduate programmes across three academic faculties.

In 2024, Swansea achieved its highest-ever ranking in the QS World University Rankings 2025, reaching 298th globally and entering the top 300 for the first time. It was also named Welsh University of the Year 2025 by The Times and Sunday Times, and ranked 29th in the Guardian University Guide 2025.

The 2021 Research Excellence Framework rated 86% of Swansea’s research and 91% of its research environment as world-leading or internationally excellent, with 86% of its research impact recognized as outstanding or very considerable.

Swansea University is a registered charity. No. 1138342.