SpaceX Signs $69 Million Solar Cell Contract
Elon Musk's SpaceX has signed a $69 million contract with Germany's Singulus Technologies. The deal is for solar cells for its Starmind satellite project. The agreement was announced on Tuesday. It includes developing a production line for heterojunction solar cells at SpaceX's facility in Bastrop, Texas. Singulus expects to deliver the first production line in the first half of 2027. This line will have the capacity to produce over 100 gigawatts of solar equipment.
The deal is a big step for Singulus. Its stock price surged by 65% to 80% after the announcement. This rise valued the company at about €73 million. This is a notable increase, given its annual revenue of €48.3 million in 2025. Singulus specializes in making solar cells suited for space applications, according to reports.
Mike Nicolls, Senior Vice President of Starlink at SpaceX, highlighted the importance of the partnership. He said, "The combination of their process expertise and our long-term commitment creates a durable option for scaling solar production." Lars Lieberwirth, a member of Singulus's executive board, noted that the collaboration will help strengthen their position as a leading provider of next-generation solar technology.
The Starmind project aims to create satellites that will act as AI data centers in orbit. SpaceX plans to send about 10,000 Nvidia server racks into space by 2028 as part of this initiative. Musk described the Starmind project as an effort to create a "sentient sun" through advanced solar technology.
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The deal is likely to boost investor sentiment in the solar technology sector. This is especially true for companies involved in space applications. The significant order from SpaceX may lead to increased demand for solar cell manufacturing. This could impact stock prices in the renewable energy market. Watch for updates on the production timeline and further developments in SpaceX's Starmind project.
Based on reporting by: livemint.com, euronews.com