Hanwha Solutions' Qcells division (hereafter Qcells) said on the 14th it is hosting the "Space Solar Innovation Workshop 2026," inviting global space solar power experts to share technological leadership and discuss avenues for cooperation.
The workshop was held behind closed doors from July 13 to 14 at the Seoul headquarters and the Jincheon plant in North Chungcheong Province. A space solar power technology seminar and a next-generation solar technology tour program were held, and participants plan to discuss key issues related to the space solar power industry—policy, research, manufacturing, and commercialization—and share a vision for building a space energy ecosystem.
Qcells plans to use this workshop to lay the groundwork for strategic partnerships to preempt the future space solar power market. In particular, Qcells will open the perovskite-silicon tandem (hereafter tandem) pilot line built at the Jincheon plant to participants and take time with global experts to explore possibilities and plans to extend Qcells' solar technology leadership into space.
A Qcells official said, "Because participants can directly and closely verify Qcells' manufacturing capabilities and the status of next-generation technology development, we expect denser technical exchanges and substantive partnership discussions to be possible."
The workshop's participants consist of space solar power and future energy solution experts from around the world. Qcells Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Danielle Merfeld will preside over the workshop overall, bringing together about 40 experts, including space solar power researchers, engineers, and representatives from corporations in the United States, Europe, and Korea.
Qcells CTO Danielle Merfeld said, "Using this workshop as a starting point, Qcells expects to broaden contact with global leaders from industry, politics, and academia who are jointly taking on the new possibility of space solar power, leading to practical cooperation," adding, "Based on the solar manufacturing innovations and technological competitiveness accumulated in ground-based solar, Qcells will do its part to realize sustainable space power solutions."
Qcells in June created a Space Solar Power Development Team under the Technology Division, moving in earnest to enter the space solar power business. The Space Solar Power Development Team will focus on research and development of space solar cells leveraging tandem technology capabilities.