SolAero Technologies Corp , a leading provider of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and composite structural products for satellite and aerospace applications, announced that it has delivered its high performance, lightweight solar cell technology to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to power its Solar-Soaring UAV demonstrator.
SolAero’s specially designed UAV-TJ high efficiency solar cells will convert solar radiation directly into electricity in order to provide power for extended duration flight, to charge the vehicles’ batteries for overnight flight and to enable the use of payloads that consume too much power for batteries alone. The solar cells were integrated into flexible sheets and ultimately onto the vehicle wing tips, which will generate approximately 40W of power for the multi-flight demonstrations. Two additional solar sheets that will generate ~100W were also delivered for co-cured integration by NRL into the carbon fiber wings of other demonstrator vehicles.
“We are pleased to provide our lightweight, affordable solar cell and sheet technologies to NRL in support of this important demonstration program.” said Brad Clevenger, CEO of SolAero Technologies. “We look forward to the upcoming flight tests and to the positive results enabled by our cooperation with NRL on this project.”
About SolAero Technologies:
SolAero Technologies Corp. is a leading provider of solar cells and solar panels to satellite and spacecraft OEMs. The business was founded in 1998 and is one of the world’s leading providers of space solar power solutions. SolAero is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM and employs approximately 280 people. For further information about SolAero, visit http://www.solaerotech.com/
About Naval Research Laboratory:
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory provides the advanced scientific capabilities required to bolster our country’s position of global naval leadership. At NRL, in an environment where the nation’s best scientists and engineers are inspired to pursue their passion, everyone is focused on research that yields immediate and long-range applications in the defense of the United States. For more information about NRL, visit https://www.nrl.navy.mil/