5N+ expands Utah advanced-materials plant for space solar

(SpaceEnergy) 5N+ plans to expand its St. George, Utah, advanced-materials facility by about 50%, increasing capacity serving applications including space solar power.

The project will add manufacturing and product-development space, improve workflows and accommodate new equipment, while allowing the company to progressively expand its engineering and materials-science workforce.

Construction is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and be completed in the second half of 2027. Critical equipment will be assembled offsite during construction to accelerate installation and subsequent capacity ramp-up, 5N+ said.

The facility transforms germanium, indium antimonide, gallium arsenide, cadmium telluride and cadmium zinc telluride into semiconductor materials, wafers, substrates and selected components. Its products serve applications including space solar power, infrared optics, defence electro-optical systems and medical imaging.

The site also carries out material recovery, refining and purification, semiconductor crystal growth, precision cutting and polishing, and product and process development.

President and chief executive Richard Perron said the expansion would provide “a capital-efficient and scalable platform to increase our capacity in step with customer demand”.

5N+ said the project follows two US government awards supporting capabilities being developed at St. George. The expansion, including gradual installation of new equipment, will be financed through the company's existing capital-expenditure plans and customer support.