{"id":47127,"date":"2025-05-26T15:54:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T10:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=47127"},"modified":"2025-05-27T00:10:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T18:40:29","slug":"iit-bombays-tandem-solar-cell-breakthrough-promises-cheaper-and-more-efficient-solar-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/iit-bombays-tandem-solar-cell-breakthrough-promises-cheaper-and-more-efficient-solar-power\/","title":{"rendered":"IIT Bombay\u2019s Tandem Solar Cell Breakthrough Promises Cheaper and More Efficient Solar Power"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Solar Cell Innovation Latest News<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Researchers at IIT Bombay have developed a high efficiency tandem solar cell with power conversion efficiency of approximately 30 per cent compared with around 20 per cent now.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Introduction<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>In a landmark development for India\u2019s renewable energy landscape, IIT Bombay has unveiled a next-generation solar cell technology that offers a substantial leap in both efficiency and affordability.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The innovation, developed at the\u00a0<strong>National Centre for Photovoltaic Research &amp; Education<\/strong>\u00a0(NCPRE), employs a tandem structure combining\u00a0<strong>perovskite and silicon materials to create a solar cell that could significantly boost India\u2019s clean energy capacity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>With efficiency rates projected at nearly 30%, compared to the existing 20% in conventional silicon cells, this innovation\u00a0<strong>may reduce the cost of solar power to as low as \u20b91 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)<\/strong>, making solar energy more accessible and sustainable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Tandem Solar Cell Technology: A Game-Changer<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The newly developed technology is based on a\u00a0<strong>four-terminal (4T) tandem solar cell design<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>In this architecture, a semi-transparent\u00a0<strong>halide perovskite-based top cell<\/strong>\u00a0is layered over a\u00a0<strong>silicon-based bottom cell<\/strong>, allowing both to function independently.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>This configuration enhances power conversion efficiency and operational stability.\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Perovskite Advantage:<\/strong>\u00a0Halide perovskites are recognized for their\u00a0<strong>exceptional light absorption and low manufacturing cost<\/strong>. IIT Bombay&#8217;s breakthrough also addresses perovskite\u2019s major drawback, its short lifespan, by extending its durability to around 10 years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Operational Durability:<\/strong>\u00a0The tandem cell remains stable under heat and low-light conditions, improving its viability across diverse Indian climates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The research team explained that this solution not only improves energy output but also enables better land-use efficiency, which is critical for a densely populated country like India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Potential Impact on Solar Energy Ecosystem<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Enhanced Efficiency &amp; Cost Reduction<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Boosts power conversion efficiency by\u00a0<strong>25-30%<\/strong>\u00a0over conventional technologies.<\/li>\n<li>Expected to bring down the cost of solar electricity to\u00a0<strong>nearly \u20b91 per kWh, a steep drop from the current \u20b92.5-4 per unit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reduced Import Dependence<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Currently, India heavily relies on China for solar-grade raw materials. Perovskite materials, which can be synthesized using locally available chemicals, will help reduce this dependency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support for Green Hydrogen Initiatives<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The Maharashtra government and IIT Bombay are collaborating on a clean energy hub in Uran, with a focus on\u00a0<strong>green hydrogen<\/strong>\u00a0production using this new solar technology.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>High-efficiency tandem cells are vital for the photoelectrochemical splitting of water to produce hydrogen sustainably.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Commercialization and Industrial Collaboration<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The technology is being scaled up through\u00a0<strong>ART-PV India Pvt. Ltd.<\/strong>, a start-up incubated at IIT Bombay\u2019s Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE).\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>It aims to provide a\u00a0<strong>commercial wafer-size solution<\/strong>\u00a0for tandem cells by\u00a0<strong>December 2027<\/strong>\u00a0using\u00a0<strong>indigenous manufacturing tools<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Public Sector Engagement:<\/strong>\u00a0The state government has directed\u00a0<strong>MAHAGENCO<\/strong>, its power generation utility, to evaluate deployment and commercialization opportunities for the technology.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Strategic Importance for India\u2019s Energy Future<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>This development aligns with India\u2019s long-term goals under the\u00a0<strong>National Solar Mission<\/strong>\u00a0and its\u00a0<strong>Net Zero 2070<\/strong>\u00a0commitment.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>As land scarcity and material imports continue to challenge India\u2019s renewable energy goals, high-efficiency indigenous solutions like this are critical to scaling up solar energy without proportionate increases in land or capital costs.<\/li>\n<li>Additionally, the ability to integrate these cells into\u00a0<strong>rooftops, vehicles (VIPV), and buildings (BIPV)<\/strong>\u00a0enhances their application versatility, pushing India closer to a decentralized and resilient energy grid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Solar Cell Innovation by IIT Bombay FAQs<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Q1.\u00a0<\/strong>What is the efficiency of IIT Bombay\u2019s new tandem solar cell?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.\u00a0<\/strong>The new solar cell has a power conversion efficiency of approximately 30%.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2.\u00a0<\/strong>What makes this solar technology more efficient than existing ones?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0It uses a 4-terminal tandem structure combining perovskite and silicon cells, enabling better light absorption and energy conversion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3.\u00a0<\/strong>How will this innovation reduce solar power costs?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0It is expected to lower costs to around \u20b91 per kWh due to higher efficiency and indigenous manufacturing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4.\u00a0<\/strong>What is the commercial timeline for this solar cell technology?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.\u00a0<\/strong>A complete commercial wafer-size solution is expected by December 2027 through ART-PV India Pvt. Ltd.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5.\u00a0<\/strong>How does this technology support green hydrogen production?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong>\u00a0The high open-circuit voltage of tandem cells makes them suitable for efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/new-solar-cell-tech-by-iit-bombay-to-sharply-cut-costs-enhance-efficiency-10028736\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IIT Bombay has developed a new high-efficiency tandem solar cell using perovskite and silicon technologies, which could significantly reduce solar power costs and enhance domestic energy security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":47132,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,392,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-47127","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-solar-cell-innovation","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47127\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}