Fold-out solar blankets to power satellites receives £1 million boost
Investigation of the flexible solar cells at Space Park Leicester.
A new concept for a solar blanket to power satellites that can be folded away will be developed with engineering expertise from the University of Leicester thanks to new funding.
Led by Lightricity, the project aims to produce an ultra-high efficiency, low-cost flexible solar blanket and compact, modular roll-out mechanism for in-orbit deployment.
The improved efficiency will potentially reduce the weight of satellites, as well as allow more power-hungry uses.
The project has received £980,000 as one of 15 ‘Kick Starter’ projects, part of £33 million funding from the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme – designed to invest in high-potential technologies, drive innovation and unlock growth across the UK.
The ‘Kick Starter’ projects will support technologies and applications that are in an earlier stage of development and increase their readiness for use in commercial and scientific endeavours. The projects cover a wide range of space-related capabilities, from in-orbit servicing and manufacturing, as well as advanced material development and the use of satellite imagery.
Lightricity will be working with academics and engineers at the University of Leicester and AVS Added Value Solutions to deliver a roll-out, in-orbit deployable flexible solar blanket or sheet for application in powering satellite payloads and potentially satellite electric propulsion, particularly suitable for small to medium satellites.
Staff from the University’s School of Engineering and Space Park Leicester, its pioneering £100 million science and innovation park, will provide systems engineering and qualification testing expertise for the project, as well as access to technical facilities across the UK for thermal vacuum cycling, irradiation degradation testing, and humidity and temperature cycling. They will also provide mechanical testing expertise, using the School of Engineering’s Mechanics of Materials Lab, to characterise the mechanical robustness of the flexible solar cells and deployment mechanisms.
The roll-out solar blanket concept will help to enable new, more power-hungry applications, as well as lighter launch weights to extend mission possibilities or reduce costs. The technology is targeting improved cost per Watt within typical power sub-system budgets for spacecraft, landers, and rovers.
The technology aims to improve solar cell efficiency by increasing power per area, increased volumetric power density through a thin film rollable format, and increase specific power by reduction of the thickness of the photovoltaics.
Ramy Mesalam (Space Park Leicester, Academic) said, “Space Park Leicester is facilitating qualification testing of Lightriticy’s rollable solar cell sheets, enabling access to state-of-the art test facilities at Leicester and across the UK. From extreme thermal cycling to radiation bombardment, the solar cell sheets will be subjected to a multitude of test campaigns which mimic the challenging space environment.”
Dimitrios Statharas (University of Leicester, Academic) said “The Mechanics of Materials Research Laboratory at the University of Leicester is providing bespoke testing capabilities to characterise the mechanical robustness of the solar cells and deployment mechanisms. Leveraging the University’s Advanced Microscopy Facility, we will be able to capture degradation mechanisms before they become visible to the human eye.”
Matthias Kauer (Lightricity, Managing Director) said, “This project is enabling Lightricity to integrate its ultra-thin >32% AM0 efficiency space solar cells into highly flexible solar sheets. With Added Value Solutions (AVS)’ deployment mechanisms and Leicester’s space heritage, the consortium brings together UK expertise for delivering novel roll-out, in-orbit deployable flexible solar sheets. This will enable new, more power-hungry applications and lighter launch weights, thus extending mission possibilities.”
Artur Fouto (Added Value Solutions, CTO) said, “AVS UK is developing a deployment mechanism for thin rollable solar sheets developed by Lightricity and integrating these into a compact modular solar array architecture that will deliver kW level of power to smallsat buses, enabling new missions and opening up new markets to these smaller platforms.”