Rostec summed up the results of the first year of operation of the production line at the Krasnoyarsk plant "Germanium" (part of the Shvabe holding): in 2025, more than 30 thousand polished germanium wafers were made for satellite solar panels. This is the first case of mass production of such elements in Russia; previously, they were completely imported.
The transition from silicon to germanium wafers increases the efficiency of space solar panels by 30%, providing 1.5 times more energy flow with the same dimensions. The material withstands extreme space conditions, demonstrating increased mechanical strength, radiation resistance and durability: the estimated service life of the panels exceeds 15 years.
In 2025, the plant supplied more than 30 thousand wafers for the space industry and renewable energy. According to estimates by Shvabe specialists, the average annual demand of the Russian market is about 50 thousand germanium wafers, which indicates the possibility of further increasing production and completely replacing imported components.