A new subsidiary combining solar manufacturing scale with proven space expertise
Konstanz, Germany – 22.06.2026 – “RCT Group has announced the launch of RCT Space GmbH, a new subsidiary dedicated to developing and supplying crystalline silicon solar cells and modules for space applications. Headquartered in Konstanz, Germany, RCT Space brings together RCT Group’s long-standing expertise in terrestrial silicon photovoltaics with a team that has direct heritage in space solar engineering, satellite power systems, and qualification-driven product development.”
RCT Group has announced the launch of RCT Space GmbH, a new subsidiary dedicated to developing and supplying crystalline silicon solar cells for space applications. RCT Space GmbH enters the market at a critical moment. Satellite constellations, national space programs, and commercial operators are increasing demand for reliable, scalable, and cost-effective solar power solutions. At the same time, the current supply base for space-qualified solar cells remains highly specialized, capacity-constrained, and dependent on complex materials and qualification pathways.
RCT Space aims to open a complementary industrial route by transferring the maturity and scale of terrestrial crystalline silicon technology into space applications.
Proven Space Heritage
RCT space has been verified by its engineering knowledge, product experience, and qualification know-how under space-relevant conditions, which can be applied to new missions. For RCT Space, this is a central and distinguishing foundation. The company builds on proven space heritage, combining direct experience in satellite solar technologies, mission-critical reliability requirements, and space qualification processes with RCT Group’s industrial crystalline silicon expertise. This gives RCT Space a strong technical position from the beginning: not as a terrestrial PV company entering space for the first time, but as a company with established space know-how focused on scaling crystalline silicon solar cells for future satellite applications.
RCT Space is being developed as a European platform for crystalline silicon solar technology in space. Its combination of space heritage, qualification-oriented development, and industrial PV manufacturing know-how gives the company a differentiated role in the market. Dr. Wolfgang Jooss, the CTO of RCT Space mentioned during the establishment that,
Our in-flight radiation annealing IP is what makes silicon viable for the missions that today belong to gallium arsenide. We have validated the underlying physics in our laboratory, and our roadmap takes us through ECSS qualification within 18 months”. And he added that “combined with the flight heritage our team brings from previous engineering work, RCT Space arrives in the market not as a newcomer but as a credible technical alternative which is ready to deliver to European and international satellite operators within months, not years.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Satellite Missions
RCT Space will initially focus on LEO satellite applications, where the growth of constellations is creating strong demand for solar cells that can be produced reliably, qualified efficiently, and delivered at industrial scale.
The company’s approach is especially relevant for satellite programs that require a secure and scalable supply chain, shorter lead times, and a more cost-conscious alternative to today’s dominant space solar technologies.
“Space solar is at an inflection point. Constellation operators and national space programs need solar cells that are scalable, affordable, and available through a secure supply chain. With RCT Space, we are bringing two decades of crystalline silicon expertise from RCT Group into orbit, with patented technology that no other supplier can match. This is not a leap of faith; it is the logical next step to industrialise silicon at gigawatt scale on the ground and apply that experience to space.”
said Prof. Dr. Peter Fath, Chairman of RCT Space, commenting on the launch of RCT Space as a new subsidiary of RCT Group.
About RCT Space
RCT Space is a subsidary of RCT Group, headquartered in Konstanz, Germany. The company develops crystalline silicon solar cells and modules for satellite and orbital power applications, combining mature terrestrial silicon manufacturing know-how with patented in-flight radiation annealing technology. RCT Space targets LEO customers across European and international markets, with first commercial deliveries scheduled to follow ECSS qualification in 2027.
About RCT Group
RCT Group is a privately held family of technology and manufacturing companies headquartered in Konstanz, Germany. From integrated PV factories and utility-scale battery systems to manufacturing energy storage, we turn ambitious energy visions into proven industrial reality—backed by German engineering standards and a global execution footprint spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Contacts
Media inquiries: connect@rct-space.com
Contact: wolfgang.jooss@rct-space.com
