News: Photovoltaics
15 July 2026
Ascent reflects on first-half 2026 achievements and milestones
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 recapped its commercial progress and solar material development in first-half 2026, and outlined its objectives to spur growth and advancement throughout the second half of the year.
“We’ve experienced a significant deal of momentum in the first half of 2026, most notably as our customer base has expanded,” says CEO Paul Warley. “While addressing the fast-growing needs of the space market remains our key focus, we’re simultaneously pursuing adoption from customers looking for solar solutions in marine and high-altitude (HAPS/HALE) applications,” he adds. “As our products’ efficiency and capabilities continue to improve amid increased market demand, we expect our sales revenue and customer base to grow throughout the rest of the year.”
Key company milestones and achievements in first-half 2026 include:
- entering the year by rapidly completing pre-paid orders for customers aiming to use Ascent’s thin-film PV in space, HAPS/HALE, and unique terrestrial applications;
- completing Atomic Oxygen exposure testing on Ascent’s space solar products, which did not incur any damage during the testing process with 1mil FEP as the primary barrier and encapsulant;
- continuing development of the firm’s PV modules’ space beaming capabilities to address the growing market demand for power beaming and receiving technologies in space;
- CEO Paul Warley conducting business travel to Europe, in addition to attending the 2026 SATShow and 2026 SOF Conference, where he liaised with strategic industry players to establish potential partnerships and secured several viable commercial leads;
- closing an up to $25m private placement.
Ascent plans to build on these achievements throughout the remainder of the year by executing upon the following strategic goals:
- cultivating new business relationships and making deliveries to new customers in need of repeat orders across multiple sectors to continue the expansion of the strategic partners and customer base;
- making further enhancements to the company’s thin-film PV technology;
- executing advanced environmental testing to quantify product performance and resilience in the punishing conditions of space and marine environments;
- continuing development of UAV and HAPS arrays and pilot designs for delivery to Ascent’s European partners in the near future; and
- further building on existing strategic partnerships to meet mutually beneficial goals and delivery of combined solutions for space prototype deployables.
Ascent says that it is poised for further customer adoption and revenue growth through second-half 2026.
Ascent Solar’s thin-film space solar products undamaged in atomic oxygen exposure tests
Ascent Solar’s PV blankets to power NOVI AI N-1 ATLAS spacecraft
Ascent Solar developing CIGS PV modules generating multiple times more power for space beaming
