• ART-PV India created a tandem solar cell combining perovskite and silicon, achieving a record 29.8 percent power conversion efficiency much higher than the usual 20% in standard panels.
• The perovskite top layer absorbs high-energy sunlight, while the silicon bottom layer captures the rest, making the cell lighter, cheaper, and easier to produce for widespread commercial and domestic use.
• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called the tech a 'game-changer' during his visit to IIT Bombay, announcing Rs 83 crore funding under a PPP model to help scale production and position India as a leader in solar tech.

An IIT-B incubated startup, Advanced Renewable Tandem-Photovoltaics India (ART-PV India), has created an advanced solar cell that holds the potential to revolutionize India's renewable energy sector. This revolutionary solar cell, developed via a tandem design that integrates perovskite and silicon, is one of the highest in India with a power conversion efficiency of 29.8 percent.

Compared to standard solar panels, which usually turn as much as 20 percent of sunlight into electricity, this new cell is able to convert close to 30 percent of solar power into usable energy. Researchers hope that with more developments, this efficiency can reach above the 30 percent bar in the near future and thus become a competitive technology across the world.

The double structure is the key to this success. The top layer, composed of perovskite, optimally absorbs high-energy sunlight, and the silicon bottom layer traps the rest of the spectrum. The double-layer design creates more light absorption and energy conversion, leading to much better performance. In addition to its technical benefits, the solar cell is lighter in weight, more affordable, and less complicated to produce than conventional models, which would promote its use in both commercial and domestic markets.

Also Read: Redington Partners with Eastman to Boost Distribution of Made-in-India Solar Solutions

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, called on the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay, where the breakthrough was conceived. The technology, he said, was a 'game-changer' that could help make India a global leader in next-generation solar technologies. He emphasized the need for industry interaction and encouraged private sector players to invest in ramping up the production of the tandem solar cells.

In his visit, the Minister also declared the release of the fourth tranche of funding one of a total Rs 200 crore commitment over a decade ago to aid research in renewable energy at the institute. This new phase will raise Rs 83 crore on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, and this is a big move in commercializing high-efficiency solar solutions by ART-PV India.