Hanwha Systems (CEO Seongcheol Eo) announced on the 13th that its in-house venture, Flexell Space, and Inha University (President Myoungwoo Cho) will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in satellite and solar cell technology.

Through this agreement, Flexell Space and Inha University will focus on technological cooperation for satellite design innovation, expressing their commitment to promoting the development of domestic space industry components and securing global leadership.

As a first step, Flexell Space will supply its "Space-Grade Tandem Flexible Solar Cells," developed by Flexell Space, to INHARoSAT (INHA Rollable Solar Array Testbed), a observation satellite of Inha University selected as a secondary payload for the Nuri-4 launch scheduled for the second half of 2025.

Tandem solar cells combining CIGS and perovskite are drawing attention as a driving force for the development of the satellite and spacecraft industry due to their low cost, light weight, and high output compared to existing product lines. Flexell Space's tandem solar cells are flexible and can be deployed in a roll-up structure like a scroll, allowing customers to unfold the solar cells to their desired output. It can be applied to various satellite surfaces such as small areas and curved surfaces.

※ CIGS: Thin-film solar cells that use a compound (Cu(In,Ga)Se2) consisting of four elements, copper (Cu), indium (In), gallium (Ga), and selenium (Se), as a light absorption layer material. They are characterized by their low production cost, lightweight, thinness, and excellent light absorption.
※ Perovskite: Solar cells that use a material with a perovskite crystal structure, such as calcium titanate (CaTiO3), with the ABX3 formula, as a light absorption layer. It is gaining attention as a next-generation solar cell that can replace current silicon solar cells and be used in space because it can be mass-produced cheaply and easily using a solution process.
※ Tandem solar cells: A next-generation solar cell that stacks two solar cells on top of each other to enhance efficiency by complementarily absorbing sunlight in different wavelength ranges.

Hanwha Systems' in-house venture, Flexell Space, is focusing on securing the space heritage of tandem solar cells to enhance efficiency and reliability. Inha University plans to incorporate innovative solar cell technology into its satellite development, thereby increasing its differentiated competitiveness in the space field.

As the new space era begins, many space companies are making various attempts to use commercial components in space, while some still emphasize the importance of space verification and certification to reduce risks in the space environment.

"We will strive to achieve meaningful results that can contribute to the domestic aerospace industry through cooperation with Hanwha Systems Flexell Space," said Kiyoung Choi, Vice Provost of Inha University. "We will continue to lead research and education related to domestic space development as a leading institution for space core technology research, contributing to the nurturing and revitalization of the space industry."

"This is the world's first time that tandem solar cells combining CIGS and perovskite are going into space," said Taehoon An, senior researcher at Hanwha Systems and CEO of Flexell Space. "This agreement is the first step in verifying the operability of future solar cells that incorporate commercial technology. We are planning to demonstrate its practical value by withstanding the actual space environment characterized by repeated extreme high and low temperatures caused by radiation and solar heat." An also stated his ambition, saying, "We will establish a unique position in the global space solar cell market by verifying the performance of the world's first new material solar cell."

Through this verification, Hanwha Systems expects to accelerate the commercialization of space-grade tandem solar cells and contribute to the growth of the space industry by developing key components required for various space projects, including satellite manufacturing, space exploration, and space power plants.

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