Perovskite and AI, the two major trends, "converge" here!

On January 7, Jinko Solar announced that the company signed a strategic cooperation agreement with XTALPI, a platform enterprise empowered by artificial intelligence and robotics for research and development innovation. The two parties will jointly establish a joint venture to promote the collaborative research and development of AI technology-based high-throughput perovskite tandem solar cells. Jinko Solar expects that perovskite tandem cells are likely to achieve large-scale production in about three years and specifically mentioned that perovskite tandem cells "can significantly reduce the deployment area of satellite solar wings" and "are the optimal solution for space photovoltaics in the medium to long term."

On the same day, a reporter from Shanghai Securities learned from leading "new photovoltaic forces" such as Renxue Guangneng, GCL-Poly Energy, and Xianan Photovoltaics (i.e., startups focused on perovskite photovoltaics) that perovskite has already initiated some space experiments, and companies are expected to further develop for space scenarios in the future.

AI Aids Development of Perovskite Tandem Cells Targeting Space Photovoltaics

According to Jinko Solar, the two parties will jointly build the world's first "AI decision-making - robot execution - data feedback" fully closed-loop perovskite - crystalline silicon tandem experimental line, relying on Jinko Solar's profound photovoltaic R&D accumulation and XTALPI's unique advantages in cutting-edge fields such as quantum physics algorithms, AI predictive models, and large-scale robotic automation experiments, focusing on high-efficiency and high-stability perovskite tandem solar cells.

"The profound significance of this cooperation lies not only in the breakthrough of a single technology but also in the indication that when AI and automated robots replace traditional 'trial and error' methods, the innovation rate and boundaries of the entire photovoltaic industry will be redefined. What we can see is not only the rise in R&D efficiency but also a fundamental transformation in the paradigm of energy innovation." Jinko Solar expects that perovskite tandem cells are likely to achieve large-scale production in about three years.

In terms of scenarios, in the ground field, perovskite/silicon tandem modules are expected to significantly reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), improving system economics by about 15% compared to traditional technologies.

More critically, there is its potential for space applications. Jinko Solar believes that perovskite tandem cells, with their intrinsic advantages of "high efficiency, low cost, lightweight, and flexibility," are more aligned with the needs of space photovoltaics compared to other technological routes, making them the optimal solution for space photovoltaics in the medium to long term. This lightweight, high-radiation-resistant energy system solution can significantly reduce the deployment area of satellite solar wings, leaving more payload space for other critical components.

The reporter noted that, including Jinko Solar, photovoltaic listed companies have significantly increased their attention to space photovoltaics at the end of the year and the beginning of the year, and all have emphasized the application prospects of perovskite technology in space. Jinko Solar Chairman Li Xiande wrote in his New Year message, "In the future, we Solar All Universe." Trina Solar Chairman Gao Jifan wrote, "In the new year, Trina will accelerate the commercialization process of perovskite mass production, opening a new era of interstellar computing power for space photovoltaics." Junda Co., Ltd. disclosed that it has officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Shangyi Photovoltaics to collaborate on the application of perovskite battery technology in space energy.

Multiple Companies Have Initiated Exploration of Perovskite Space Applications

In addition to mature photovoltaic listed companies, the Shanghai Securities Journal reported on January 7 that new photovoltaic companies have also conducted perovskite space experiments in recent years, although this has not been widely known before. Several interviewed companies stated that they will conduct more development for space applications in the future.

Tan Hairen, chairman of Renshuo Solar, told reporters that Renshuo Solar has collaborated with a laboratory at Swansea University in the UK, funded by the European Space Agency, on space applications of all-perovskite tandem solar cells, mainly testing the thermal cycling and ion radiation resistance of perovskite components.

The relevant results will be published in July 2025 in the journal "Applied Physics Letters," with the paper titled "High performance rigid and flexible tandem perovskite photovoltaics under mimic high-altitude platform satellite environments." The study shows that all-perovskite tandem solar cells on glass substrates and flexible substrates exhibit good thermal cycling stability under simulated high-altitude platform satellite environments set in the experiment.

"We plan to form a larger R&D team than before to conduct research on perovskite space applications," Tan Hairen stated.

Yao Jizhong, CEO of Xina Photovoltaics, introduced to the Shanghai Securities Journal that their company's perovskite products were tested on domestic satellites in 2020.

Fan Bin, chairman of GCL-Poly Energy, told the Shanghai Securities Journal that in the first half of 2026, GCL-Poly plans to collaborate with aerospace research institutions to conduct some experiments on high-altitude balloons. The high-altitude balloons will enter the thin atmosphere, mainly testing the radiation resistance of perovskite.

"The next step is to conduct targeted development for space applications and utilize the advantages of perovskite in space," Fan Bin stated. He believes that there has not been a large demand for space photovoltaics previously, so the perovskite industry has mainly focused on ground applications. Now, targeting space scenarios, additional research includes the need to use radiation-blocking glass based on previous technological accumulation.

Why Perovskite is a Potential "Preferred" for Space Photovoltaics

The reporter learned that perovskite is considered a potential technology for space photovoltaic applications due to its characteristics of being lightweight, thin, flexible, low-cost, high-efficiency, and radiation-resistant.

Several interviewees mentioned that the two key indicators for measuring the cost-effectiveness of space photovoltaic products are power-to-weight ratio and cost per watt. Their importance is comparable to the core indicator of ground photovoltaics, "levelized cost of electricity" (cost per kilowatt-hour).

The power-to-weight ratio refers to the power generation capacity corresponding to unit weight. If a satellite is to carry a certain power of photovoltaics, it would prefer the photovoltaic payload to be as light as possible from the perspective of launch costs, so a higher power-to-weight ratio is better. Additionally, the cost of the photovoltaic product itself is also a significant cost, making the cost per watt an important consideration From these two indicators, according to the aforementioned research paper on the collaboration with Ren Shuo Guang Neng, the power quality ratio of perovskite photovoltaics can reach a maximum of 50W/g, while crystalline silicon is about 0.38W/g and gallium arsenide is 3.8W/g. Therefore, perovskite theoretically has a cost advantage in emission. According to public information, gallium arsenide thin-film solar cells are currently the mainstream in satellite photovoltaics, but the biggest drawback of gallium arsenide, which is relatively "perfect" in many aspects, is its high cost. Under the trend of reducing costs in commercial space, its cost per watt is at a disadvantage in the future, while crystalline silicon and perovskite are much cheaper. Therefore, perovskite has great potential at the intersection of these two indicators.

"For the ultimate application scenario of space photovoltaics, we believe that perovskite technology has unique advantages of high power quality ratio and flexibility, and is expected to play a key role in future low-orbit constellation energy systems," said a relevant person in charge of Li Yuan Heng to the Shanghai Securities Journal.

Looking up at the stars, one must also keep their feet on the ground. Perovskite still needs step-by-step verification to reach space.

"Perovskite 'going to space' is a mid-term or even long-term matter that requires many serious tests, and we hope everyone views it rationally," said Yao Jizhong. Fan Bin also stated that although perovskite space testing does not have widely recognized industry standards like those established by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), it still needs to undergo internal testing within the aerospace system.

From the perspective of perovskite manufacturing, a relevant person in charge of Li Yuan Heng stated that the space environment poses challenges for the battery's radiation resistance, extreme temperature tolerance, and ultra-long lifespan that ground applications have not faced. This requires manufacturing equipment to have "extreme manufacturing" capabilities—not only requiring extremely high process consistency and reliability but also adapting to the unique testing and quality standards of space products. Li Yuan Heng has successfully developed laser scribing machines and laser edge-cleaning equipment for key process links in perovskite battery preparation and has completed laboratory verification for leading R&D clients in the industry. At this stage, the company will continue to reserve perovskite-related process technologies and looks forward to deep collaboration with partners in the industry chain to jointly promote the transition of perovskite space photovoltaics from scientific concepts to engineering reality.

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