Origami Solar Array - OSA

ExLabs is developing the Origami Solar Array (OSA), in conjunction with Stanford Morphing Structures Research Laboratory, as the next-generation lightweight, low-cost, high power solar energy generator. With flexible and durable perovskite solar cells developed by Swift Solar, the OSA has multiple commercial applications in space as well as on Earth, in addition to civil and defense purposes. We propose a novel deployable Origami Solar Array (OSA) utilizing the flexible cells, that can supply reliable high electrical power with low mass and low cost. The OSA consists of photovoltaic cells supported by a lightweight foldable carbon fiber structure that attains stiffness from its corrugated form. The photovoltaic cells are perovskite-silicon based with efficiency up to 25% and flexibility similar to silicon only cells. The cost of Watts generated is about 10% of a cost of a Ga-As triple junction cell. A key functionality is the ability to autonomously stow and deploy the solar array in space multiple times, which enables a high degree of operational flexibility. The OSA design is stowable and can be adapted for use on small spacecraft as well as on large satellites. We will leverage Swift Solar’s perovskite flexible, durable solar cell innovations in low-cost high-efficiency PV cell fabrication to attain substantial reductions in manufacturing cost while increasing power output capability, as compared to the current state-of-the-art Ga-As triple junction solar panels.