What happened
SpaceX signed a supply deal worth more than $69 million with Germany-based equipment maker SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES to build a production line for high-efficiency heterojunction (HJT) solar cells. The first turnkey line is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2027.
SINGULUS disclosed the contract on November 10, saying the partnership covers developing both high-performance solar cells and the equipment needed to manufacture them. Production is expected to scale to support more than 100 gigawatts (GW) of equipment capacity, though the output capacity of the first line was not specified.
Musk cites 100 GW
In a post on X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company had ordered 100 GW per year of HJT solar manufacturing equipment from SINGULUS. He linked the order to the Starmind program, describing its ambition as creating a "sentient sun."
SpaceX Senior Vice President of Starlink Mike Nicolls said the partnership provides a manufacturing path for solar cells intended for Starmind satellites.
What is HJT technology?
HJT combines a crystalline silicon wafer with thin layers of amorphous silicon. These layers reduce the loss of electrical charges at the wafer's surfaces, improving the cell's ability to convert sunlight into electricity. Manufacturing requires steps including wafer cleaning, thin-film deposition and thermal treatment. SINGULUS develops equipment for these stages, combining wet-chemical processing with vacuum coating technologies such as PVD and PECVD.
Starmind and orbital computing
The Starmind program centers on satellites carrying computing payloads powered by solar energy generated in orbit. SpaceX's published specifications for its AI1 satellite describe a deployed height of 30 meters, a wingspan of 75 meters and a computing payload drawing up to 250 kilowatts at peak and 175 kilowatts on average. The satellites are designed to operate in sun-synchronous orbit and transmit data to the ground through laser links connected to the Starlink network.
In its 2026 securities filing, SpaceX outlined a long-term ambition to deploy up to 100 GW of power to orbit annually. The company said reaching that level would require thousands of launches each year, while noting it could build a commercially viable business at considerably lower deployment rates. SINGULUS said its strategic partnership with SpaceX began in March 2026, with SpaceX providing funding that month and again in October.
