Hanwha Solutions, parent company of solar manufacturer Qcells, and Hanwha Systems, its sister company specializing in defense and satellite systems, recently signed a joint development agreement to develop high-efficiency perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells for satellite power systems, marking Hanwha's entry into the space solar power market. Hanwha Systems is investing 30 billion won (about $20 million) in a research program running from 2026 through 2028.
Under the agreement, Hanwha Solutions will lead research through 2028 focused on improving high-efficiency cell design and performance and verifying reliability under space conditions, developing power solutions optimized for very low Earth orbit (VLEO), where lightweight structures and resilience to a demanding orbital environment are critical. The companies plan to conduct an in-orbit demonstration in 2028 to validate the technology under real space conditions, with a commercialization pathway aimed at integrating the tandem cells into Hanwha Systems' planned constellation of 64 very-low-Earth-orbit synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites, capable of resolving ground objects as small as 15 centimeters, with deployment targeted to begin in 2029. Beyond VLEO, the companies say they intend to further develop the technology for use across other orbital environments, including low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO).
The satellite program sits alongside a dedicated space-solar development team Hanwha formed within its technology division in June 2026, with recruitment focused on space materials, satellite design, and space-environment reliability, along with plans for a research center in the United States. It also builds on Qcells' existing perovskite-silicon tandem work on the ground and in space: the company has reported 28.6% certified efficiency on a full-area M10 tandem cell, became the first company to receive TÜV Rheinland certification confirming its tandem modules meet both IEC and UL standards, and is separately supplying tandem solar cells for the NASA-backed SSTEF-1 lunar lander mission led by the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
By pairing Hanwha Solutions' terrestrial tandem manufacturing experience with Hanwha Systems' satellite and defense systems expertise, the joint venture aims to give Hanwha a foothold in a space power market where high-performance solar cells have historically cost roughly 100 times more than terrestrial modules due to specialized, low-volume manufacturing, betting that its existing tandem production scale can offer a more cost-effective path to space-qualified power systems.
