Swift Solar Shows US Military How Perovskite Can Deliver Energy In the Field

Renewable technology startup Swift Solar demonstrated its perovskite tandem solar capabilities during the U.S. Department of Defense’s Cyber Fortress exercises in Virginia.

Perovskite is a calcium titanium oxide mineral which is envisioned as competitive to silicon for solar energy material. The demonstration this August in Virginia Beach was for DoD (now rebranded as the Department of War) and was viewed by military leadership, Army operational energy specialists and private sector partners such as Amazon Web Services.

The exercise was intended to show the potential for Swift Solar's technology to support energy resilience for national defense operations.

"By strengthening operational energy resilience, U.S.-made perovskite solar technology can directly address the growing power demands of the modern battlefield and enhance overall military readiness,” Andre Slonopas, Cyber Fortress Lead for the U.S. Army, said in a statement.

SwiftSolar designed its perovskite tandems to need fewer materials and cost less, the company says. Other attributes could include improved power to weight ratios, increased power density, enhanced radiation tolerance and domestic manufacturing capacity. The solar technology is being built in the U.S.

“Partnering with the DoD at Cyber Fortress validates our U.S.-made perovskite solar technology in real-world defense conditions and underscores Swift Solar's potential as a key provider of ultra-efficient, next-generation solar solutions for the US government and beyond,” Swift Solar CEO Joel Jean said.

Silicon currently dominates the semiconductor side with about 95% of solar market share, according to reports. SwiftSolar hopes to scale up manufacturing for its perovskite alternative and reach commercial production within 24 months.

The company’s solar technology is integrated with Rapid Deployment Hybrid MicroGrid and was developed in partnership with Resilient Energy & Infrastructure.

The U.S. military also is embracing numerous microgrid deployments at bases around the world.