Development of solar cells and solar generators
There are two main lines of action being pursued in the development of solar cells and generators. The first is the development of cost-effective ultra-thin solar cells or thin-film solar cells.
The CIS solar cell, for example, offers a power-to-weight ratio (mass per watt) which has been reduced by a factor of 30 compared to existing solar cell modules and is highly resistant to radiation. This line of development forms the basis for the further development of extremely light, flexible solar generators with innovative standing and unfolding mechanisms.
Secondly, the focus is on highly efficient GaAs multi-junction solar cells or concentrator solar cells with efficiencies of over 27 percent. The results of these developments are the basis for future high-performance solar generators in the power class above 20 kilowatts, which will be required for telecommunication satellites in the near future.
