U.S. DOE Launches $12 Million Program to Accelerate Perovskite Solar for Space Applications

September 6, 2026

Perovskite-Info Israel

Overview

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $12 million funding opportunity through its Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation to accelerate space photovoltaics, with a strong emphasis on perovskite technology. This initiative targets critical challenges such as degradation mitigation, innovative multi-junction designs, and scalable manufacturing methods, aiming to bolster domestic capabilities and ensure robust power solutions for harsh space environments.

In Depth

Background

The space industry is rapidly expanding, driven by the miniaturization and enhanced performance of satellites, increased deep space exploration, and the rise of commercial spaceflight. Reliable, lightweight, and highly efficient solar cells are indispensable components for supporting these activities. Traditional space solar cells have historically been expensive and reliant on specific materials, posing challenges in terms of supply stability and cost. Perovskite solar cells, with their tunable bandgap, high theoretical efficiency, and potential for relatively low-cost manufacturing, are gaining worldwide attention as an innovative alternative for space photovoltaics. The DOE’s current funding signifies a clear intent to recognize the potential of perovskite technology to meet stringent space requirements and establish U.S. leadership in this domain.

Key Findings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation has announced a $12 million funding opportunity aimed at fostering innovation and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities for space photovoltaics. This program is designed to accelerate the development of solar cells capable of operating in the extremely harsh environment of space, with a significant emphasis placed on projects involving next-generation perovskite solar cell technology. This strategic investment has the potential to secure U.S. leadership in areas such as space exploration, satellite communication, and defense, while also contributing to global energy security.

Technical Details and Challenges

The specific research and development challenges targeted by the DOE’s funding program are aimed at enhancing the performance and reliability of space-bound perovskite solar cells. Key challenges include the development of technologies to mitigate degradation under the severe conditions unique to space, such as radiation, extreme temperature fluctuations, and vacuum. This encompasses optimizing new material compositions, protective layers, and device structures. Innovative multi-junction designs (e.g., combinations of perovskites with existing space solar cell materials) for more efficient utilization of the solar spectrum are also prioritized. Furthermore, the program seeks deposition methods compatible with high-throughput and low-cost manufacturing processes (e.g., roll-to-roll processes) to promote domestic mass production. These technological advancements are directly linked to extending the duration and reducing the cost of space missions, which are essential for the future development of the space industry.

Strategic Significance and Outlook

The $12 million funding from the U.S. DOE is expected to significantly accelerate research and development in space perovskite solar cells. The future outlook anticipates this funding leading to the development of prototype devices with superior radiation resistance, thermal cycling stability, and long-term vacuum stability, paving the way for in-space validation tests. If perovskite solar cells succeed in space applications, their technological reliability will dramatically increase, potentially spurring widespread adoption in terrestrial applications as well. Furthermore, the emphasis on domestic manufacturing is important from the perspective of supply chain resilience and economic security. This investment is not just about improving the performance of space solar cells but represents a strategic step to solidify the overall maturity of perovskite technology and its position as a future energy technology.

Source: https://www.perovskite-info.com/doe-announces-12-million-space-photovoltaics-funding-opportunity-strong

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