What Microlink Devices does

MicroLink Devices UK Ltd is a Cardiff-headquartered semiconductor company specialising in the Epitaxial Lift-Off (ELO) manufacturing of ultra-thin, flexible Gallium Arsenide-based Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) III-V multi-junction solar cells. The company produces cells delivering over 30% efficiency under AM0 illumination and specific power exceeding 3000 W/kg, claimed as the world's highest, at up to five times lower weight than conventional Germanium-based alternatives. Its solar cells are qualified into flagship aerospace platforms including Airbus Defence and Space's Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station and BAE Systems' PHASA-35, with additional space heritage from the NASA MISSE-7 mission and SSTL's CarbSAR satellite.

The company supplements its solar product line with high specific energy battery packs reaching up to 450 Wh/kg and 850 Wh/l, targeted at fixed-wing UAVs, multirotor UAVs, UGVs, and USVs. Together these offerings can be combined into complete solar-electric power systems for aerospace and defence customers. Manufacturing is performed at facilities in Cardiff and the Baglan Bay Innovation Centre, with a newly opened in-house Manufacture and Test capability at Cardiff Gate Business Park.

MicroLink generates revenue through direct B2B enterprise sales of custom-designed solar cells, flexible solar sheets, arrays, battery packs, and complete power systems, supported by contract engineering services. Pricing is bespoke and quotation-based with multi-year contracts typical. The company is a subsidiary of US-based MicroLink Devices Inc. and is a core member of the CSconnected compound semiconductor cluster, with strategic and financial backing from government programmes including DESNZ, Innovate UK, and the Cardiff Capital Region.

Name

Microlink Devices

Legal name

MicroLink Devices UK Ltd

Website

https://mldevices.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Compound Semiconductor Solar Cells and Aerospace Power Systems

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Battery Manufacturing (33591)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Compound semiconductor solar cells
• Flexible photovoltaic technology
• HAPS solar power systems
• Aerospace battery solutions
• Space solar arrays

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Talbot

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Solar Cell Products: Sale of ultra-lightweight, flexible GaAs-based III-V multi-junction solar cells including IMM cells and flexible solar sheets for aerospace, HAPS, and space applications.
2. Battery Products: Custom design and manufacture of high specific energy battery packs for UAVs, UGVs, and USVs with up to 450 Wh/kg specific energy.
3. Contract Engineering Services: Development of solar cells, solar sheets, and battery integration services for third parties.
4. Complete Solar Electric Power Systems: Turnkey solutions integrating solar cells, power management, and storage systems for various applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MicroLink Devices UK Ltd designs, develops, and manufactures ultra-lightweight, flexible GaAs-based III-V Inverted Metamorphic multi-junction solar cells using a proprietary Epitaxial Lift-Off process, plus high specific energy battery packs (up to 450 Wh/kg). Products are delivered as bare IMM cells, laminated arrays, or as fully integrated solar-electric power systems for HAPS, UAV, space, and defence customers including Airbus, BAE Systems, SSTL, and NASA.

Product overview

MicroLink Devices UK Ltd is a manufacturer of advanced solar and battery technologies. The core product portfolio centers on proprietary Epitaxial Lift-Off (ELO) Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) GaAs multi-junction solar cells, available as bare cells (20 cm² for UAVs, 37 cm² for space applications) or integrated into flexible solar sheets and arrays (HALE/UAV and Space arrays). The company also offers high specific energy battery packs (up to 450 Wh/kg) with optional BMS, designed primarily for UAV and aerospace applications. These products are sold individually and can be combined into complete solar-electric power systems with engineering services for custom integration. The solar and battery technologies are synergistic, enabling ultra-light power solutions for high-altitude platforms including Airbus Zephyr and BAE Systems PHASA-35.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IMM Solar Cells Ultra-thin, flexible Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) triple-junction GaAs-based solar cells using MicroLink's proprietary Epitaxial Lift-Off (ELO) process. Delivered as bare cells to aerospace, defence and space customers.
• 20 cm² IMM Solar Cell InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs triple junction IMM cell optimised for UAV applications.
• Space Solar Cell (37 cm²) InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs triple junction IMM cell optimised for space applications with TiOx/Al2O3 AR coating and compatibility with space-grade interconnects.
• Flexible Solar Sheets Custom flexible solar sheets integrating IMM solar cells, designed and manufactured to meet specific airframe and mission requirements for high-altitude aircraft such as AALTO Zephyr and BAE Systems PHASA-35.
• HALE/UAV Array Laminated array of 20 cm² IMM cells designed for high-altitude aircraft, fully encapsulated with welded interconnects, blocking and bypass diodes.
• Space Array Space-qualified IMM array with flexible radiation protection, space-grade interconnects and bypass diodes, encapsulated with a flexible silicon RTV substrate.
• Battery Packs Custom-designed high specific energy battery packs with up to 450 Wh/kg specific energy and 850 Wh/l volumetric energy density, available with optional integrated BMS and multiple packaging options for UAV, UGV and USV applications.
• Complete Solar Electric Power Systems Turnkey integrated power systems combining MicroLink IMM solar cells, power management electronics, and battery storage into complete solar-electric power systems for aerospace and defence applications.
• Engineering Services Contract engineering services covering bespoke development of solar cells, flexible solar sheets, and battery integration for third-party customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 5x lighter than conventional solar cells
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CSconnectedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore member of the world's first compound semiconductor cluster. CSconnected launched a £1m investment programme (delivered with Cardiff Capital Region) to accelerate job creation and strengthen the UK's strategic position in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. MicroLink secured funding through this programme.
• WideBlueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with WideBlue on the LUSS project (LED-based Ultra-Violet exposure for Safe Surfaces) - an autonomous COVID-19 disinfection system. WideBlue contributed product design, optical design, electronics, and mechanical engineering expertise.
• Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CSA Catapult on the LUSS project. As a not-for-profit RTO, CSA Catapult's mission is to accelerate development and commercialisation of novel applications using compound semiconductors. CSA Catapult provides access to compound semiconductor technology capabilities.
• Space Energy Initiative (SEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-backed organisation with 46 members including Thales Alenia Space, Airbus, National Grid and International Electric Company (IECL). Awarded MicroLink a 2-year contract to develop ELO solar cells for Space-Based Solar Power applications following £3m DESNZ funding.
• Cardiff UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner within the South Wales compound semiconductor cluster, providing research capabilities and brainpower supporting the ecosystem.
• Swansea UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner within the South Wales compound semiconductor cluster contributing to R&D capabilities in the region.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• First Solar: Major global manufacturer of thin-film CdTe solar modules for utility-scale PV. Comparable as a thin-film solar manufacturer at scale and a relevant incumbent in the renewable equipment industry that MicroLink operates within.
• Hanwha Qcells: One of the world's largest silicon-based solar module manufacturers with global capacity. While not focused on III-V space-grade cells, it represents the broader incumbent solar manufacturing landscape that MicroLink would interact with as adjacent/competing renewable energy suppliers.
• Sharp Corporation: Japanese electronics and solar manufacturer historically known for both terrestrial and space-grade solar cells (including III-V heritage). Comparable as a broad incumbent with historical expertise in compound semiconductor solar cells, even though its current focus is terrestrial modules.

Direct peers

• mPower Technology: US supplier of flexible, lightweight solar modules for space and aerospace platforms (e.g., NASA Loon altitude balloons, small sats). Comparable in product form factor (flexible, ultra-light solar sheets for HAPS/space) and customer profile.
• Alta Devices: Hanwha-owned developer of thin, flexible GaAs solar cells for UAVs, automotive, and consumer applications. Closely comparable to MicroLink on flexible, lightweight GaAs cell technology, with overlapping UAV and aerospace use cases.
• Azur Space Solar Power GmbH: German manufacturer of high-efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells for space and terrestrial concentrating PV applications. Directly comparable in product (III-V multi-junction cells), target markets (space/satellite), and emphasis on high-efficiency cells.
• MicroLink Devices Inc. US parent company of MicroLink Devices UK and original developer of the Epitaxial Lift-Off (ELO) and IMM solar cell technology. Operates the same III-V multi-junction solar cell product line and serves overlapping US aerospace and defence customers, making it the most directly comparable entity.
• Spectrolab: Boeing subsidiary and one of the largest manufacturers of space-qualified III-V multi-junction solar cells, supplying geostationary satellites and many NASA missions. Competes with MicroLink on efficiency, radiation tolerance, and heritage in the same space solar cell market.
• SolAero by Rocket Lab: Acquired by Rocket Lab, SolAero is a major US supplier of high-efficiency III-V solar cells and panels for satellites and HAPS. Directly comparable to MicroLink in space-grade solar cell technology and customer overlap in small-sat and HAPS programmes.

Emerging players

• Oxford PV: UK-based pioneer of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell technology with a manufacturing facility in Brandenburg, Germany. Comparable as an emerging next-generation photovoltaics specialist based in the UK / Europe with similar talent pools and grant-driven early commercialisation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• Facebookfacebook.com/mldevices

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Microlink Devices