This August, in partnership with the DoD, Swift Solar deployed our US-manufactured perovskite tandem solar technology at the Army-led Cyber Fortress exercise in Virginia Beach—offering a preview of how next-generation solar can meet the challenges of energy security.
In one of the first real-world demonstrations of perovskite technology in the US, participants relied on a transportable microgrid partly powered by Swift Solar’s high-efficiency PV modules to operate AI-driven cyber defense and mitigation systems in response to a simulated cyberattack on Virginia’s power grid.
This exercise was an opportunity to showcase how our ultra high-efficiency tandem technology can enhance solar system performance in a live environment for an audience of DoD leadership, Army operational energy specialists, and technology partners including Amazon Web Services (AWS). And our technology delivered, validating the advances we’ve unlocked in our labs and putting Swift on track for 30% to 50% power increase over today’s silicon solar technology.
Once commercialized, perovskite tandem solar will permanently anchor solar as the least-cost and most scalable energy generation solution. And in addition to powering microgrids, our technology will help the US address a much larger national security priority: meeting surging electricity demand from AI data centers with grid-scale power.
Operational Energy: The Proving Ground for Grid-Scale Innovation
“Operational energy”—the military term for energy resources that power equipment, connect troops, and energize the frontlines—is mission critical. Not having the right amount of energy in the right place and at the right time jeopardizes mission success.
During the Cyber Fortress exercise, Swift proved that high-density perovskite tandem solar can work in concert with other energy technologies like battery storage in a microgrid, and can sustain critical operations when traditional energy sources are unavailable. Although this was a small-scale demonstration of operational energy capabilities, those same capabilities are required for scaling up to grid-scale power as a standalone PV system or an integrated PV + storage system.
AI Data Centers Require Larger Operational Energy Solutions
Just as the DoD deploys operational energy systems to ensure readiness, hyperscalers are now building local/onsite energy systems to meet the enormous power demands of AI. By co-locating power generation with data center loads, hyperscalers are taking greater control over the speed and cost to become operational—skirting lengthy utility interconnections and transmission infrastructure.
In the next five years, the buildout of AI data centers in the US will require new energy generation roughly equal to the entire state of Texas. Perovskite tandem solar paired with battery storage will uniquely be able to meet the majority of this demand as the least-cost option.
That’s because Swift Solar’s tandem modules will generate 30–50% more power than today’s silicon modules. This jump in performance will unlock major solar system equipment and operating cost reductions industry-wide, while reducing land use and accelerating installation.
Early Government Adoption Accelerates Commercialization
Technologies rarely reach scale without strong early adopters, and few early adopters compare to the US government. Not only has it bridged the gap between laboratory innovation and real-world deployment for a number of transformational technologies like GPS and the Internet, it’s also one of the largest consumers of energy in the world.
Our collaboration at Cyber Fortress showcased just one of the many energy needs Swift Solar could potentially serve for the US Government, from powering bases and federal buildings, to enhancing satellites and supporting NASA missions. These solutions can of course also serve the private sector. And since Swift Solar’s technology will be built, tested, and scaled here in the US, we’ll be at the vanguard of creating a solar supply chain free of influence from America’s economic competitors.
Electricity: the Backbone of National Security
The electric grid has long been the beating heart of America’s critical infrastructure. And with the rapid growth of power-hungry AI services across government and private sectors, the urgent demand for more electricity is growing fast. Our economic wellbeing and competitive edge depend on reliable, affordable sources of power.
As AI and electrification reshape our military and nation’s energy demands, Swift Solar is ready to unlock the full potential of solar for a more secure, resilient, and robust energy future.
Within 24 months, Swift Solar will be ramping manufacturing of its perovskite tandem solar technology and ready to serve America’s energy needs.
