Silicon Passivated Contacts Photovoltaic Arrays: A Promising Technology for Space

The huge photovoltaic volume required by the growing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) applications call for a re-assessment of alternatives photovoltaic solutions for space. CEA conducts R&D activities on this topic at cells and photovoltaic array (PVA) level, working closely with academic & industry sectors, leveraging on its expertise in terrestrial photovoltaic approaches, while taking into account the specificity of space environment. In this paper, we intend to present key developments and challenges for a silicon passivated contacts photovoltaic array solution, through the different ongoing work programs.