According to a report in China Daily on February 5, 2026
China’s rapidly expanding commercial space sector, propelled by breakthroughs in reusable rockets and satellite mega-constellations, is driving unprecedented growth in the nascent space photovoltaics (PV) market, according to industry experts.
Space photovoltaics — solar power systems designed for spacecraft — are increasingly recognized as the backbone for long-term satellite energy supply. Leveraging the nearly constant sunlight available in geostationary orbit, these systems deliver energy generation efficiencies far beyond those possible on Earth.
Investor interest in the sector is surging. According to financial data provider Wind Info, share prices of Chinese space PV companies climbed more than 26 percent from early December 2025 to late January 2026, reflecting optimism over the commercial space economy.
“Satellites can’t plug into a terrestrial power grid, and carrying fuel is prohibitively expensive,” explained Wu Ziyi, an analyst at CITIC Securities. “Solar power is effectively the only viable long-term energy solution for space missions.”
Solar radiation in space is over 30 percent more intense than on Earth, while foldable, lightweight solar arrays allow engineers to scale power capacity in line with modern satellite demands.
The industry’s rapid growth is tied to the rise of satellite “mega-constellations,” such as China’s Qianfan network, which plans to deploy tens of thousands of satellites. This unprecedented scale is creating a massive demand for space-grade solar cells.
Yang Fu, a researcher at Caixin Securities, noted a shift in the quality of demand: satellites now support advanced functions such as in-orbit computing and electric propulsion, pushing the industry toward more efficient, commercially viable solar solutions.
CITIC Construction Investment Securities analyst Zhu Yue projects a three-stage technological evolution for space PV:
Short-term: Traditional gallium arsenide (GaAs) batteries dominate high-value missions, like deep-space exploration, due to their high efficiency despite high costs.
Medium-term: Heterojunction (HJT) batteries gain prominence for commercial satellite constellations, offering a balance of cost, weight, and radiation resistance.
Long-term: Next-generation perovskite batteries promise superior power-to-weight ratios, potentially enabling large-scale infrastructure such as space-based solar power stations by 2030 and expansive orbital data centers after 2035.
“China’s commercial space surge is accelerating the industrialization of space PV,” Yang said. “With hundreds of satellites planned for deployment, the market opportunity is immense, and technological innovation is moving fast.”
As commercial spaceflight becomes a strategic priority in China, investors and technology firms are eyeing the space solar sector as a high-growth frontier, blending advanced materials, orbital engineering, and renewable energy technologies.