Flera källor bekräftade att de verkligen är solpaneler:
The first in the series of advanced twin ion engine starfighters, the original TIE fighter was developed by Sienar Fleet Systems. The agile single-pilot craft has a titanium alloy hull, and quadanium steel armored solar panels... (src: The Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike game)
Ytterligare kanonkällor som namnger dem solpaneler:
- Strike Force: Shantipole
- Mörka styrkor: Soldat för imperiet
- X-Wing-bokserien
Vad gäller energi:
" Viktig guide till fordon och fartyg " (1996) bekräftade att TIE / LN fighter kraftverk var starkt beroende av solpaneler
... most distinguishing feature is the pair of dominant solar array wings...
... The TIE fighter draws much of its energy from solar radiation absorbed by the array wings. (page 180)
Diagrammet heter kraftverket på TIE / ln som "SFS I-a2b Solar Ionization Reactor":