Solestial

Solestial

Mass-produced silicon solar panels for space

About Solestial

Simplify's Rating
Why Solestial is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Hardware

Industrial & Manufacturing

Energy

Aerospace

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$29.1M

Headquarters

Tempe, Arizona

Founded

2013

Overview

Solestial develops silicon-based solar panels for space, focusing on low-cost, high-efficiency, radiation-hardened power sources for satellites. Its panels are designed for easy integration into diverse satellite architectures and are produced at scale via a proprietary manufacturing process. This makes the technology cheaper and more scalable than traditional space solar options, helping satellite manufacturers and operators in both private and public sectors reduce power costs. The company aims to disrupt the space power market by offering affordable, scalable solar solutions that enable new space-based services and applications.

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Generation 2 silicon heterojunction cells reaching 20% efficiency expand addressable markets beyond small satellites to larger platforms.[3]
  • Mitsubishi Electric investment signals aerospace supplier confidence and potential integration into Japanese satellite programs.[1]
  • $7+ million SBIR contracts from US Space Force, Air Force, NASA, NSF validate technology and establish government procurement relationships.[1]

What critics are saying

  • Spectrolab dominates 80% space market with 28-30% efficient III-V cells proven in high-radiation GEO orbits.[1]
  • Chinese competitors adapt terrestrial silicon heterojunction tech for space at 15% efficiency with 95% cost reduction versus III-V.[1]
  • NASA Glenn testing exposes spacecraft charging vulnerabilities in polymer modules causing 50% faster performance degradation.[1]

What makes Solestial unique

  • Self-curing silicon cells recover radiation damage at 65°C under sunlight, retaining 96% efficiency after 10-year LEO equivalent exposure.[1]
  • Automated manufacturing produces panels 90% cheaper than III-V multijunction technology with 65% mass savings versus incumbent solutions.[1][2]
  • Vertical integration achieved January 2026 via Meyer Burger equipment acquisition enables complete US-based wafer-to-module production control.[1]

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Funding

Total Funding

$29.1M

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

3 Rounds

Grant funding comparison data is currently unavailable. We're working to provide this information soon!
Grant Funding Comparison
Coming Soon

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

1%
Solestial
Jan 21st, 2026
Solestial Acquires Meyer Burger Equipment to Strengthen US Manufacturing

Solestial acquires Meyer Burger equipment to strengthen US manufacturing. TEMPE, Ariz., January 21, 2026 - Solestial, Inc. ("Solestial"), the solar energy company for space, today announced that it has acquired manufacturing equipment from Meyer Burger (Germany) GmbH ("Meyer Burger"), a Swiss headquartered terrestrial solar manufacturer. Under the purchase agreement, Solestial acquired additional solar manufacturing equipment from Meyer Burger's Hohenstain-Ernstthal facility. The strategic acquisition enables Solestial to completely process its self-healing silicon solar technology from wafer to cell in house, significantly expanding its manufacturing capabilities and supply chain control. Solestial plans to transition the limited solar cell manufacturing currently conducted in Germany to the United States, resulting in a fully integrated cell to module solar manufacturing operation based in the United States. "This agreement delivers a critical manufacturing capability and strengthens the resilience of our supply chain as we scale," said Margo de Naray, CEO of Solestial. "Our 30,000 square foot facility is fully operational and commissioned for production. With this agreement and other actions underway, we are building an American based supply chain, with 100 percent of our manufacturing in the United States within the next year. At a time when global supply chains face increasing uncertainty, we are proud to have direct control over a critical input, abundant and reliable power for all space applications." Solestial and Meyer Burger entered a strategic manufacturing partnership in August 2024. Under that partnership, Meyer Burger received Solestial's proprietary ultrathin and radiation-hardened silicon wafers, applied its silicon heterojunction technology, and returned processed wafers to Solestial's Tempe, Arizona facility for metallization, finishing, and integration into flexible solar power modules. The partnership was disrupted when the German subsidiaries of Meyer Burger, facing significant pressure from low-cost Chinese photovoltaics in the United States and European markets, filed for insolvency in May 2025. The company subsequently halted operations at its Hohenstain-Ernstthal facility, where Solestial's wafers had been processed. About Solestial Solestial exists to deliver abundant energy in space. The company's breakthrough technology is a silicon solar cell engineered for space to self-cure radiation damage under sunlight at operating temperatures as low as 65°C. Solestial solar cells are packaged in an ultrathin, low-mass, flexible solar power module designed to withstand up to 10 years in a variety of destinations in space. The flexible solar power modules can be produced on automated machines resulting in costs lower than traditional III-V multijunction solar products. From today's satellite constellations and research projects to tomorrow's lunar settlements and services in space, Solestial's innovative technology represents a paradigm shift for space solar; an affordable, scalable solution to power sustained development. Solestial is a U.S. company manufacturing solar cells and flexible solar power modules in Tempe, Arizona. To learn more, visit the Solestial website and follow Solestial on social media.

Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa)
Aug 14th, 2025
SolarStratos: Raphaël Domjan breaks world record in solar-powered flight

Innovation also extends into niche applications: Perovskia Solar, a Vaud-based Empa spin-off, is bringing perovskite solar cells to IoT devices, while Meyer Burger is partnering with US-based Solestial on ultra-thin, radiation-resistant solar cells for space missions.

Electronics Weekly
Jul 25th, 2025
Solestial wins SpaceWERX contract for fast-assembly solar array

Solestial, a space solar energy startup, has won a $1.2 million SpaceWERX contract to develop a novel solar array for small satellites.

pv magazine
Jul 18th, 2025
Solestial designing space solar array with shorter lead time

Solestial, a manufacturer of lightweight, radiation-hardened silicon PV products for space, has received $1.2 million to fund the development of a novel solar array wing concept for small satellites with potential for multiple orbit use.

Solestial
Jul 16th, 2025
Solestial Awarded $1.2M by SpaceWERX for Space Solar Development

To date, Solestial has been awarded more than $7 million dollars in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.

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