No matter how rich or poor one is, everyone can be seen getting bothered by the rising electricity bills. If the heat is too much, then the electronics like AC, refrigerator and cooler in the house consume a lot of electricity. In winter, more electricity is consumed to keep the house warm.
In such a time, if a technology can generate more and cheaper electricity from the rooftops of our homes, would it be anything less than a miracle? You will say that this can be done by installing solar panels, what is the miracle in that? But believe me, a miracle-like technology has been created and that too in India.
In fact, scientists at IIT Bombay have developed a new solar cell with their hard work that can generate about 25-30 percent more electricity than the conventional technology so far. Currently, solar panels convert about 20 percent of energy into electricity, with the new technology this capacity has reached 30 percent. This will not only generate more electricity, but its cost will also be significantly reduced. Currently, the cost of a unit of solar energy is between Rs 2.5 to Rs 4, while with this technology this cost can come down to just Rs 1 per unit.
The material used in tandem solar cells is being produced in India…
According to a report in the Indian Express, this work has been made possible by Professor Dinesh Kabra and his team. This team is working at the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) of IIT Bombay. They have created a special type of solar cell, which is called a “tandem solar cell”. In this, a special material called ‘halide perovskite’ has been used in the upper layer, which generates better electricity even in very low light. The lower layer contains silicon, which is already used. Both together form a combination, which generates more electricity.
This technology is not only effective, but the raw materials used in it are also available in India. Till now, the materials used in solar panels had to be imported from countries like China. The materials used in the new technology will be made in India itself and will reduce India’s dependence on countries like China. Earlier, the biggest drawback of perovskite was that its life was very short, but the team from IIT Bombay has made it sustainable for 10 years. This is also a big achievement in the field of energy.
A huge responsibility on the shoulders of the Maharashtra government and IIT Bombay
The responsibility of bringing this technology to the ground has now been taken by ART-PV India Private Limited, a startup associated with the Maharashtra government and IIT Bombay. They are working to fully prepare it for the market by December 2027. Behind this startup is the same Professor Kabra, who has developed this technology. The special thing is that the machines and equipment for this will be made in India.
This technology will not be limited to large solar farms, but can also be installed on the roof of houses, vehicle roofs and walls of buildings. That is, more electricity in less space and more savings. Not only this, IIT Bombay and the Maharashtra government are also going to use this technology to produce ‘green hydrogen’ i.e. clean and environment-friendly hydrogen, which is very important for future energy needs.
