The fourth generation of Alta Devices’ single-junction gallium arsenide cell technology is 40 percent lighter than the company’s previous offering, which results in an improved power-to-weight ratio of 160 percent. This technology is critical for unmanned aerial vehicles, solar cars and other electric vehicles. It can be used to Source: Alta Devices generate substantial power over small surfaces with minimal impact on vehicle design criteria.

The California-based company, which was acquired by thin film producer Hanergy in 2014, designed its cells to be integrated with vehicles – providing lightweight and high-efficiency generation on a very small area.

Autonomous power is critical because each sensor, processor or communication device added to increase system capabilities simultaneously increases power demand. For example, in order to be of practical use for applications like remote internet connectivity, a high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle needs to add sensor-based avionics and navigation, in addition to reserving power and weight budget for communications payloads. Adding additional batteries or energy sources add weight and bulk, and are still limited to only a few days of energy supply due to aircraft weight limitations. Alta’s solar technology easily integrates into the surface of the aircraft or vehicle without upsetting aerodynamics, while providing an abundant supply of power.

If Alta’s Gen4 technology had been available and used on the solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft instead of crystalline silicon, the result in weight savings would have been up to 100 kilograms. The technology would have also provided up to 15 percent more solar power. The benefits for operations would include a larger service ceiling, faster rate of climb and the ability to operate at higher latitudes in winter while carrying more sophisticated and capable payloads.

Alta Devices has broken the solar cell efficiency record (single junction) more than four times since 2010 and has held the world record for single junction solar cell efficiency since 2012 at 28.8 percent.