author: Roman Skiba, russian/bar/
– It’s an ideal power source in space for many reasons. [Słoneczne – red.] perovskite cells are much lighter than traditional cells, which is extremely important considering the cost of transporting each kilogram to orbit. They are flexible, so they can be packed into a small space. In turn, because they are digitally printed, they can take any shape. This means that the available surfaces can be used to generate electricity to the maximum extent – said Olga Malinkiewicz, co-founder and CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of Saule Technologies, the company that produces such cells.
Printed solar cells will be tested in space for the first time
“In the coming days, the Polish observation satellite STORK-7, equipped with 28 perovskite cells from Saule Technologies, will appear in space. The satellite will be launched using the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (which belongs to – ed.), as part of the Transporter mission 9. This will be the first-ever demonstration of the operation of perovskites in orbit. SatRe is responsible for the construction, software, launch and operation of the satellite in orbit,” we read in the release.
– Our new satellite is equipped with a camera giving 5 m GSR resolution per pixel, with a total mass of four kg. The breakthrough technology that we will integrate with the satellite for the first time will be perovskite cells from Saule Technologies. We want to check the operation of perovskites in space and see if they are as effective an energy transmitter as on Earth – said Grzegorz Zwoliński, president of the management board of SatRev SA, quoted in the release.
Olga Malinkiewicz expressed hope that this mission will confirm the resistance of Saule Technologies perovskite cells to cosmic radiation, which has already been shown by tests in the laboratory.
For the first time in history, we have the opportunity to find out whether perovskite cells will work in orbit. If the tests are successful, this technology will open up a completely new and interesting area of use
– said Dawid Zieliński, president of Columbus Energy SA, member of the Supervisory Board of Saule Technologies SA.
During the mission, Saule Technologies perovskite cells will be constantly monitored. Measurements of current, solar intensity and temperature, sent successively to ground stations, will allow for analysis of cell operation in real time. According to Vivek Babu, director of astronautics at Saule Technologies, this mission paves the way for ultra-cheap energy solutions in the space industry.
This is not the first cooperation of Polish companies in the space sector
In 2021, SatRev, Saule Technologies and Columbus Energy had the opportunity to collaborate on a project called Mission Andromeda. Then, two Polish STORK-4 and STORK-5 Marta were launched into orbit using the Virgin Orbit launch vehicle, LauncherOne. The satellites collected multispectral images and medium resolution data for clients from the agricultural and energy industries in Poland and the USA. Both satellites completed their missions this year and provided valuable information that allows SatRev to improve its technology.
SatRev is a Wrocław-based company founded in 2016, operating in the industry – the first Polish commercial entity to place its facilities in orbit.
Saule Technologies is a Polish company, created in 2014 by physicist Olga Malinkiewicz, developing the technology of ultra-thin printed perovskite cells. This innovative photovoltaic solution allows you to generate energy from both the sun and artificial light, which is why it can be used in many ways. Saule Technologies is the owner of the world’s first perovskite cell production line in Wrocław. Currently, the company is working on commercializing the product.
Columbus Energy SA is a service provider on the modern energy market. Columbus is a company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and one of the largest shareholders of the photovoltaic installation market in Poland. (PAP)
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
