Ascent Solar Technologies Reflects on H1 2025 Achievements and Milestones, Looks Ahead to Executing Upon H2 2025 Strategy

Rhea-AI Summary

Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI), a U.S. manufacturer of flexible thin-film photovoltaic solutions, has provided a mid-year update on its H1 2025 achievements and H2 2025 strategy. Key milestones include a collaboration with NASA for power beaming capabilities, completion of a $2 million public offering, and achieving a record 15.7% efficiency in CIGS solar technology production.

The company has focused on expanding its presence in the space market through partnerships, technology improvements, and industry event participation. For H2 2025, Ascent plans to secure additional space industry supply agreements, develop integrated power solutions, and advance space-optimized encapsulation strategies for various orbital applications.

Positive

• Secured collaboration agreement with NASA for thin-film PV power beaming development
• Achieved record 15.7% efficiency in CIGS solar technology at production scale
• Successfully raised $2 million through public offering, providing liquidity into 2026
• Expanded partnerships and customer base in the space and defense industries

Negative

• Small size of public offering ($2 million) suggests limited financial resources
• Continued reliance on additional funding through public offerings may lead to dilution

Insights

Solar Technology & Aerospace Expert

Ascent Solar reports solid H1 2025 progress with NASA collaboration, efficiency improvements, and funding secured through 2026, positioning for space market growth.

Ascent Solar's mid-year update demonstrates meaningful progress in its strategic pivot toward the space market, highlighted by a new collaborative agreement with NASA for power beaming capabilities. This partnership with the premier space agency represents significant validation of Ascent's thin-film technology and could accelerate its adoption in space applications.

The company's technical achievement of reaching 15.7% efficiency at production scale for their CIGS solar technology marks an important milestone. For context, thin-film solar typically trades efficiency for flexibility and weight advantages, so achieving efficiency improvements while maintaining these benefits is particularly valuable for space applications where weight is a critical constraint.

Financially, the $2 million public offering provides operational runway into 2026, giving the company stability to execute on its strategy. While relatively modest in size, this funding demonstrates investor confidence and provides essential working capital for their specialized manufacturing operations.

The company's focus on developing deployment architecture using established actuated tape technology commonly used in orbit shows practical integration with existing space infrastructure. This approach of adapting proven technologies rather than creating entirely new deployment systems reduces technical risk and potentially accelerates adoption.

Looking forward, Ascent's emphasis on securing additional supply agreements and developing full "plug and fly" integrated power solutions suggests a transition from component supplier to higher-value integrated systems provider. Their work on specialized encapsulation strategies for different orbital environments (VLEO, LEO, GEO) shows technical depth addressing the unique challenges of space operations.

THORNTON, Colo., July 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascent Solar Technologies (“Ascent” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ASTI), the leading U.S. innovator in the design and manufacturing of featherweight, flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, today commented on its commercial progress and solar material development in the first half of 2025, as the Company looks ahead to continued growth and advancement in the second half of the year.

“At the outset of the year, we sought to enter into a series of new private partnerships, further improve upon our technology’s efficiency, and focus our efforts and offerings on the space market,” said Paul Warley, Chief Executive Officer of Ascent Solar Technologies. “At the midpoint of the year, we are thrilled to be able to say that we have already reached those goals and look forward to further improving upon them, while also reaching new milestones and achievements throughout the remainder of the year.”

Key Company milestones and achievements from the first half of 2025 include:

• Entering into a Collaborative Agreement Notice with NASA to advance the development of Ascent’s thin-film PV power beaming capabilities
• Announcing the pricing of a $2 million public offering of shares which provides liquidity into 2026
• The design and delivery of rapidly customized thin-film solar solutions with a series of new partners
• Reaching record new efficiency of 15.7% at production scale for Ascent’s CIGS solar technology
• Efforts to co-develop a unique deployment architecture using well established actuated tape technology commonly used on orbit
• Increased engagement within the solar and space communities through attendance at industry events, including the 40th Annual Space Symposium, the Stratospheric Operations & Research Symposium 2025, the 2025 SatShow, and more
• Conducting a series of facility tours for prospective customers and partners in the solar, space and defense industries
  

Ascent’s leadership plans to build upon these achievements throughout the remainder of the year through:

• Securing additional supply agreements with space partners and customers
• The co-development and release of full plug and fly solutions with integrated structure power solutions
• Advancing the development of space optimized encapsulation strategies for use in VLEO, LEO, and GEO with higher education, agency and private entity partnerships
• The attendance of future events to connect with key industry leaders, existing partners, and potential customers

Ascent’s leadership team looks forward to continued success through the remainder of 2025 and is eager to update its stockholder community with exciting Company announcements and milestones as they come to fruition. Anyone interested in learning more about the Company, its mission and technology, or anything else, is encouraged to visit https://www.ascentsolar.com.

About Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc.

Backed by 40 years of R&D, 15 years of manufacturing experience, numerous awards, and a comprehensive IP and patent portfolio, Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative, high-performance, flexible thin-film solar panels for use in environments where mass, performance, reliability, and resilience matter. Ascent’s photovoltaic (PV) modules have been deployed on space missions, multiple airborne vehicles, agrivoltaic installations, in industrial/commercial construction as well as an extensive range of consumer goods, revolutionizing the use cases and environments for solar power. Ascent Solar’s research and development center and 5-MW nameplate production facility is in Thornton, Colorado. To learn more, visit https://www.ascentsolar.com.

Media Contact

Spencer Herrmann
FischTank PR
ascent@fischtankpr.com

FAQ

What major achievements did Ascent Solar (ASTI) announce for H1 2025?

In H1 2025, Ascent Solar achieved record 15.7% efficiency in CIGS solar technology, secured a collaboration agreement with NASA, completed a $2 million public offering, and expanded partnerships in the space sector.

What is Ascent Solar's (ASTI) strategy for H2 2025?

For H2 2025, ASTI plans to secure additional space industry supply agreements, develop integrated power solutions, and advance space-optimized encapsulation strategies for VLEO, LEO, and GEO applications.

How much funding did Ascent Solar (ASTI) raise in their public offering?

Ascent Solar raised $2 million through a public offering, which provides liquidity into 2026.

What is the current efficiency of Ascent Solar's (ASTI) CIGS technology?

Ascent Solar achieved a record efficiency of 15.7% at production scale for their CIGS solar technology.

What is Ascent Solar's (ASTI) partnership with NASA about?

Ascent Solar entered into a Collaborative Agreement Notice with NASA to advance the development of thin-film PV power beaming capabilities.