IIT Bombay boosts solar cell efficiency to 30%

IIT Bombay has made a significant advancement in solar technology by developing a new type of solar cell that can achieve an efficiency of 30%. The researchers believe this could potentially increase to 45% in the future. The Maharashtra government is supporting this project to establish India as a leader in next-generation solar technology through a 300-MW pilot project. The new technology integrates perovskite with traditional silicon solar cells, which can produce more electricity at a lower cost. This breakthrough is being promoted by the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), a state government think tank, as a crucial step toward changing the solar market globally. The startup Advanced Renewable Tandem Photovoltaic (ART-PV) India, incubated at IITB, played a key role in this development. Professor Dinesh Kabra from IIT Bombay noted that while perovskite solar cells are known for their high efficiency, they typically degrade faster than standard ones. However, their new tandem solar cell is stable and boosts efficiency significantly. The Maharashtra government is in talks with several banks, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, to fund the pilot project in Uran. This initiative aims to reduce the number of solar panels needed for electricity generation, leading to lower costs and less space required for installation. Kabra highlighted that this technology may also be suitable for use in Indian satellites, making them lighter while producing more power. Kabra stressed the importance of securing more funding for this project to ensure India's advancement in solar technology. He pointed out that China has now established itself as a leader because it invested early in solar technology. With growing global competition, time is of the essence for India to catch up.