Space Solar Limited, founded in 2022 and headquartered in the UK, is a company focused on developing space-based solar power (SBSP) technology. As a provider, they aim to create clean, dependable, and affordable energy by collecting solar energy in space and wirelessly transmitting it to Earth. Space Solar collaborates with organizations like the UK Government through the Space Energy Initiative (SEI) and is working towards having its first plant operational by 2030.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
By June 2022, the Sun Chasing project had completed the world’s first full-chain, integrated ground validation system for a space solar power station.
A future space solar power station could potentially supply electricity to several satellites or ground vehicles at the same time.
Solestial is the only space solar provider with self-healing silicon technology proven on orbit.
A space solar power station would collect sunlight in orbit and convert it into microwaves or lasers for transmission to Earth or directly to satellites and spacecraft.
York Space Systems agreed to acquire Solestial, a space-solar-cell manufacturer, for an undisclosed amount.
The global germanium wafer market for space solar applications was valued at approximately $125 million in 2024.
The global market for germanium wafer substrates for space solar cells was approximately $125 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $253 million by 2032.
Yunnan Chihong Zinc and Germanium launched a Space Solar Cell Germanium Wafer Construction Project in March 2025 with an interim target of 1.25 million wafers by the end of 2025.
Spectrolab has delivered more than 6.5 million multijunction space solar cells over its lifetime.
Rocket Lab’s entry into the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture supply chain followed Photon satellite bus operations, Electron mission cadence, and the Space Solar Power Project demonstration.
John Sandusky led space, solar, and laser programs at Sandia National Laboratory for more than 20 years before retiring.
Silicon solar cells reduce reliance on gallium arsenide and germanium critical mineral supply chains for space solar power.
Starpath Space launched a new line of space solar panels called Starlight Air.
State-of-the-art rigid space solar arrays achieve approximately 200 W/kg specific power.
At 100 W/kg specific power, a 1-megawatt space solar array would mass roughly 10,000 kilograms.
NASA’s dataset of flown space solar missions clusters around 30 W/kg specific power.
Overview Energy is a space solar startup founded by Marc Berte.
The NASA study stated space solar could become directly competitive with terrestrial alternatives if launch costs fall to $500 per kilogram, hardware lifetimes extend to 15 years, and manufacturing learning curves achieve 85% or lower.
NASA released a January 2024 study projecting baseline lifecycle costs of $610 and $1,590 per megawatt-hour (2022 dollars) for two space solar design concepts over 2050–2080.
Japan’s government lists space solar as a long-term R&D target under its basic energy plan, and JAXA and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry are sponsoring a small-scale tech flight demo in fiscal year 2026.