Rostec summed up the results of the first year of operation of the production line at the Germaniy plant in Krasnoyarsk (part of the Shvabe holding): in 2025, more than 30 thousand polished germanium wafers for satellite solar panels were manufactured. This is the first case of mass production of such components in Russia; previously they were fully imported.
The transition from silicon wafers to germanium wafers increases the efficiency of space solar panels by 30%, providing 1.5 times greater energy input with the same dimensions. The material withstands the extreme conditions of space, 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 production growth and complete replacement of imported components.