Every hour the sun delivers more energy to Earth than humanity consumes in an entire year—around 173,000 terawatt hours1
Yet, for all that potential, efficiently converting sunlight into usable energy remains a challenge.
Researchers believe capturing solar power in space offers a promising path to greater energy conversion efficiency. Space-based solar power could not only help meet our growing energy demands on Earth but also fuel next-generation space exploration.
Becoming more efficient will depend on advancing already-proven materials (such as boron-doped solar cells), testing different materials, and developing new technologies.
Boron’s role in solar technology
On Earth and in space, you’ll find boron in two key solar components: Solar cells and borosilicate glass solar panels.
Solar cells
Boron is used as a dopant for the p-type layer of a silicon-based solar cell. It improves silicon’s conductivity by creating electron “holes” (sites where electrons are missing) that establish an electric field between the p-type and negatively charged n-type layers. That field is what drives current when sunlight strikes the cell, converting it into energy.
Borosilicate glass solar panels
Borosilicate glass forms a protective cover over the solar cells. Because it is clearer than ordinary glass, more sunlight passes through to the cells for energy conversion.
Its low thermal expansion coefficient also enables borosilicate glass to handle rapid and wide temperature changes without cracking.
Read more about boron in solar energy
How space-based solar power is advancing
Solar power is already the backbone of space operations, but the next wave of innovation focuses on efficiency, durability, and scalability. Advances are being driven less by new physics and more by materials science—particularly high‑purity, boron‑enabled components.
Researchers are directing space-based solar efforts toward two goals:
- Using solar power in orbit to support Earth and space‑based systems
- Enabling more ambitious space exploration missions
Powering Earth from orbit
Rising global energy demand is increasingly driven by AI, data centers, and high‑performance computing, all of which require large amounts of power, cooling, and land. Space‑based solar power offers a complementary pathway—especially when energy is used directly in orbit rather than transmitted to Earth.
Instead of beaming electricity back, orbital solar power systems can fuel satellites, onboard computing, and AI‑driven data processing with only data transmitted to Earth. This approach reduces the land and cooling footprint of terrestrial infrastructure while taking advantage of continuous, unfiltered sunlight in space.
Boron‑containing materials support this concept by enabling high‑efficiency solar cells, protecting systems from radiation, and withstanding extreme temperature cycling—capabilities essential for long‑life orbital power and computing platforms.
Solar power for space exploration
In 1958, NASA’s Vanguard 1 became the first solar-powered satellite. Since then, solar panels and arrays have been the primary power source for most spacecraft and planetary rovers.
As missions travel farther from the sun and operate for longer durations, solar cell efficiency and material stability become mission‑critical. High‑efficiency multi‑junction cells, radiation‑resistant materials, and advanced coatings are being actively tested, including on the International Space Station.
Boron‑containing materials play a credible role in this materials ecosystem. Boron dopants remain essential to photovoltaic performance, while borosilicate glass protects solar arrays from radiation and thermal shock. In addition, boron nitride thin films are being explored as anti‑reflection2 and protective coatings to further reduce optical losses under space conditions—attributes aligned with the demands of long‑duration, high‑reliability exploration missions.
The scalability challenge of space
Whether it’s solar for exploration or capturing energy for Earth, space presents a monumental infrastructure challenge. Scale, mass, launch logistics, and long‑term reliability all place practical limits on what can be deployed in orbit.
Based on system‑level estimates, generating just 1 terawatt of space-based solar power would require an estimated 1.8-3.7 billion square meters of panels.
Why quality matters for space-grade solar components
Space is an unforgiving environment with extreme temperature swings, constant radiation, and the absence of an atmosphere to protect materials.
Therefore, space‑grade solar components require high‑quality materials with tightly controlled composition and impurities.
For solar cells, even trace metallic impurities can restrict electron movement, reducing sunlight‑to‑electricity conversion efficiency. Similarly, elevated iron levels in borosilicate glass used as solar panel covers can diminish optical transmission, directly impacting energy output. Consistent and fit-for-purpose boron containing materials therefore support reliable component performance by helping manufacturers manage impurity levels and material variability in demanding operating environments.
Interested in learning more about boron in solar power?
U.S. Borax is proud to support renewable energy applications that are moving us toward a more sustainable future.
As a leader in both refined borates and research and development, we’re constantly working with customers to drive technology advancement in solar and beyond. Contact our experts today.
References
1. Chandler, D. October 26, 2011. Shining Brightly, MIT News.
2. Toon, J. June 24, 2025.Space Station Testing Will Evaluate Photovoltaic Materials. Georgia Tech Research Institute.
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