German tech company signs €60 million contract with Elon Musk for satellite solar cell supply
Elon Musk's SpaceX has signed a €60 million contract with German tech company Singulus Technologies to supply solar cells for its new Starmind satellites.
The €60 million order is the first in what promises to be a long-term partnership between SpaceX and the German firm. Following the announcement, Singulus shares surged by 65-80%, valuing the company at approximately €73 million – a dramatic increase given its 2025 annual revenue was only €48.3 million.
Space Solar Expansion
As part of their strategic partnership, the companies plan to establish additional facilities and production lines capable of producing 100 gigawatts of solar power – equivalent to ten large nuclear reactors' annual output. Singulus, based in Kahl am Main, Germany, manufactures heterojunction solar cells particularly suited for space applications.
The strategic partnership with SpaceX allows us to further industrialise these capabilities at a meaningful scale and solidify our position as a leading Western provider of next-generation solar cell technology.
AI Satellite Project
The solar cells will power SpaceX's Starmind satellites, scheduled for production at the Texas facility in early 2027. These satellites will function as AI data centers in space, part of Musk's ambitious 'sentient sun' project. Each satellite will feature 75-meter-long solar wings to generate power for computing AI data in space and transmitting it to Earth via laser.
While Musk's claim to launch 1 million satellites faces skepticism – current global satellite count is only 15,000 with Starlink accounting for 9,500 – similar projects are emerging, including Google's plans for solar-powered satellite computing units.
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