Idemitsu and SOURCE: Building the Next Generation of Space Solar Supply Chain
Partner: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. — Tokyo, Japan
Program: CIGS Solar Cell Technology Collaboration for Space
Products: MOD-010 CIGS Module — in development.
Markets: High-LEO, MEO, GEO, Defense, High-Radiation Missions
Idemitsu
The traditional space solar industry runs on gallium arsenide solar cells. GaAs delivers excellent performance in space but comes with significant vulnerabilities. Global supply is concentrated, shortages are documented, and geopolitical export control developments have raised the stakes for programs that depend on it.
Meanwhile, the market above 1,200 km altitude — MEO, GEO, and high-radiation orbits — has been largely outside SOURCE's current silicon-based product line. Addressing both gaps required a technology partner with deep expertise in an alternative.
The Collaboration
SOURCE and Idemitsu Kosan announced a strategic collaboration in late 2025 to co-develop and deliver CIGS-based solar solutions for the space market. Idemitsu brings over 30 years of CIGS R&D experience and more than 6 GW of terrestrial solar cell production. SOURCE brings its manufacturing, integration, and delivery capabilities alongside an established base of flight customers.
- CIGS cells deliver high radiation resistance, maintaining performance in MEO and GEO
- Self-healing properties reduce power degradation over long mission lifespans
- Lightweight thin-film profile reduces array mass and improves launch economics
- GaAs-independent supply chain — relevant for defense and supply chain-sensitive programs
- Qualification and testing campaign underway at SOURCE's Colorado R&D facility
- Planned availability: 2027
The Result
The MOD-010 CIGS module is in active development. This collaboration extends SOURCE's addressable market into high-LEO, MEO, GEO, and high-radiation mission profiles — and provides a credible GaAs-independent alternative that the space industry does not currently have at this scale.
"We believe our technology is not merely a component, but a keystone to making space more accessible across a wide range of applications, from LEO constellations to high-radiation missions."
- Hiroshi Kawaguchi, Head of Innovation Strategy, Idemitsu Kosan
"Idemitsu's advanced CIGS solar cell is the perfect technology to help SOURCE expand our existing product offerings and better serve our growing list of flight customers."
- Philip Keller, CEO, SOURCE
Why It Matters
The Idemitsu collaboration is evidence that SOURCE is building the supply chain diversity the space industry needs — not just for today's LEO constellations but for the full range of orbital environments that the next generation of missions will require.
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