Hanergy's U.S. subsidiary Alta Devices announced that it will expand the production of gallium arsenide solar cells to meet the growing demand for small satellites (SmallSat). Data show that tens of thousands of low earth orbit (LEO) small satellites will be launched worldwide in the next decade. These small satellites will rely on solar power to provide energy. The flexible gallium arsenide thin-film solar cells prepared by Hanergy Alta Devices have unique advantages and potentials, which can effectively meet the specific needs of small satellites and help the small satellite market explode.
Solar cells are one of the most expensive hardware components in small satellites. Hanergy Alta Devices has developed proprietary equipment to support the large-scale production of gallium arsenide thin-film solar cells. Over the next few years, Hanergy Alta Devices plans to produce tens of megawatts of solar cells through its Sunnyvale and California manufacturing facilities in the United States. Compared with the same industry, Hanergy AltaDevices' unique technology and equipment advantages are conducive to the large-scale production of solar cells and greatly reduce the cost of a single SmallSat satellite.
Flexible gallium arsenide solar cell chips produced by Hanergy Alta Devices are light, thin, flexible and can be used in more creative structural designs such as foldable, flat and inflatable, and support more compact high-power solar cells. Array design to meet the energy requirements of high-speed low-Earth orbit communication satellites.
Traditional photovoltaic modules (PVA) are composed of hundreds or even thousands of small solar cells. Each cell is protected by a glass layer. The cells are connected by metal welds, and they must be filled to prevent electrical arcs and electrical space intrusion. In contrast, Hanergy's Alta Devices products consist of flexible battery cells that are 10 to 100 times larger and do not require glass packaging. This not only eliminates battery damage, reduces costs, but also eliminates the risk of bare electrical connections. At the same time, unlike traditional single battery or CIC (Glass Package Interconnected Battery) installation methods, Hanergy Alta Devices solar cells use a large-area, high-capacity vacuum bonding process to achieve bonding with customer substrates.
Overall, compared with traditional space solar cells, in the balance of solar conversion efficiency, battery pack weight, battery durability, deployment speed, and cost, Hanergy Alta Devices technologies and products provide low-earth orbit satellite manufacturers A better solution.
According to information released by the US Federal Communications Commission, it is expected that more than 15,000 low-Earth orbit small satellites will be deployed soon for use in communications, scientific research, military intelligence, remote sensing, and new technology development. Hanergy Alta Devices has a long history of cooperation with high value-added fields such as satellite and aerospace. In April this year, more than 60 ThinSats small satellites powered by Hanergy Alta Devices solar cells were successfully launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. At present, Hanergy Alta Devices is working with a number of top satellite manufacturers to apply its leading solar cell technology to recent launch missions.
Ding Jian, Senior Vice President of Hanergy Group and CEO of Hanergy Alta Devices, said: "At present, we have established a dominant position in the high-altitude long-haul unmanned aerial vehicle (HALE UAV) and high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) markets and will continue We are dedicated to serving LEO satellite projects with unique leading technologies. We believe that Alta Devices' solutions can effectively meet the needs of this fast-growing market. "
At present, the highest conversion rate of GaAs double-junction thin film batteries manufactured by Hanergy Alta Devices reaches 31.6%, the maximum conversion rate of single-junction cells reaches 29.1%, and the conversion rate of single-junction mass-produced modules reaches 25.1%, maintaining the world's leading level. In addition, the two co-founders of Hanergy Alta Devices, Professor Eli Yablonovitch and Professor Harry Atwater, won the William R. Cherry Award, which represents the industry's highest academic award in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
It is understood that Hanergy Alta Devices can provide the world's most efficient, thinnest and most flexible mobile energy technology to convert any type of light into electricity, thereby expanding the system's energy supply and completely replacing traditional power supplies in many cases. . The solution can be fully integrated into the terminal system and is ideally suited for small satellites, unmanned systems, consumer electronics, sensors, automobiles, remote exploration or mobile carriers of any size and weight.