News: Photovoltaics
5 August 2026
Ascent Solar meets growing drone market demand
Ascent Solar Technologies Inc of Thornton, CO, USA – which designs and makes lightweight, flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) panels that can be integrated into consumer products, off-grid applications and aerospace applications – has emphasized its continued commitment to providing durable, reliable solar solutions to the space market, and expanded on its entry into the unmanned systems market as global demand rapidly grows. This objective underscores its strategy of expanding the spectrum of commercial opportunities for its thin-film offerings while maintaining its paramount focus on space applications.
Ascent says that its commitment to the rapidly growing space economy is demonstrated by its participation in new orbital missions, such as the recent integration of its thin-film solar products into Reditus Space’s ENOS spacecraft, which is scheduled for launch this Fall. In addition, Ascent received an order for 100 modules for a satellite that will manufacture components in space. Both of these could lead to annual recurring business of 10–25kW.
With respect to the drone market, Ascent says that it is currently experiencing accelerated demand from unmanned aerial and marine systems industries, as its technology’s uniquely high power-to-weight ratio offers major operational advantages. It is also working with a European organization to supply its products for integration into a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) project, expecting to deliver an initial 250W sub-array by the end of the Summer. These endeavors represent additional customer adoption milestones in Ascent’s ongoing work to provide lightweight, resilient solar power solutions at high altitudes. The firm has received orders from two Eastern European drone manufacturers that will integrate Ascent’s products into aircraft wing designs. These initial orders have the potential to become recurring business, reaching 200–300kW of product demand annually. Company leadership is also actively engaged in discussions with two US-based drone manufacturers around future opportunities to supply its solar products.
Additionally, Ascent has secured product orders from two unmanned marine vehicle (UMV) companies: one global manufacturer and the other US-based. This expansion into applying its solar products to UMVs illustrates the versatility of the company’s technology across many drone market verticals. These initial orders have the potential to become recurring business, reaching 125–200kW of product demand annually.
“As defense departments across the globe increasingly prioritize unmanned systems, lightweight power generation has become mission critical,” says Ascent Solar’s CEO Paul Warley. “Our thin-film PV boasts an exceptional power-to-weight ratio achieving as light as 500–600W/kg and features an advanced encapsulation design that is well suited for demanding drone applications. Those advantages allow drones to stay in the air longer without adding weight that compromises their performance or aerodynamics,” he adds. “Space remains a priority market, but we are excited by the increasing opportunities from the drone industry, as many of the same performance advantages that make our products ideal for space vehicles also deliver substantial benefits for unmanned applications.
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