The ZEUS Project to harness solar energy in space with nanowire technology

The ZEUS Project to harness solar energy in space with nanowire technology
by Hugo Ritmico
Madrid, Spain (SPXR) Oct 10, 2024

The University of Malaga (UMA) is collaborating in an international consortium to advance the collection and transmission of solar energy in space through the 'ZEUS' project, part of the Horizon EIC Pathfinder Challenges. This European project, coordinated by Lund University in Sweden, has been awarded nearly euro 4 million to develop innovative nanowire solar cells designed to operate in the harsh conditions of space.

The ZEUS project, or Zero-loss Energy harvesting Using nanowire solar cells in Space, focuses on creating radiation-resistant photovoltaic cells that can efficiently absorb solar energy. Nanowires, which are needle-shaped structures just 200 nanometers in diameter-much thinner than a human hair-allow for high resistance to radiation and optimal light absorption.

"Covering approximately 10 percent of a surface with active material is all that is needed to absorb as much light as a thin layer covering the entire surface of the same material would do," explained Enrique Barrigon, professor of Applied Physics I at UMA and the project lead at the university.

Currently, nanowire solar cells used in space achieve around 15% efficiency. ZEUS aims to boost this significantly, potentially reaching up to 47% efficiency by utilizing advanced III-V semiconductor materials. The project also explores transferring these solar cells to flexible, lightweight substrates, which could be used to create large deployable photovoltaic panels for space applications.

In addition to its focus on technical innovation, the ZEUS project emphasizes environmental sustainability, including decarbonization and the efficient use of critical raw materials. Professor Barrigon highlighted that the project not only seeks to demonstrate the commercial viability of nanowire solar cells but also to assess their environmental impact, particularly for space-based power generation systems. One potential application is increasing the power output of communications satellites.

The University of Malaga will play a key role in characterizing these advanced solar cells and conducting the tests required to ensure their durability in the space environment.

The Horizon EIC Pathfinder Challenges program supports pioneering technologies like ZEUS that could shape the future by enabling the development of revolutionary technologies. The University of Malaga is also involved in other projects under this program, including 'BioRobot-MiniHeart' and 'SONICOM,' furthering its contributions to cutting-edge innovation.

Research Project:Zero-loss Energy harvesting Using nanowire solar cells in Space (ZEUS)