Latest news with #Joshi
The Hindu
43 minutes ago
- Business
- The Hindu
MNRE invests ₹200 crore in NCPRE at IIT Bombay, pushes for scalable solar innovation
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has provided over ₹200 crore in funding to the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay over the past 15 years, as part of its efforts to support India's solar R&D ecosystem and the broader 100 GW solar mission, said Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday (July 15, 2025). Interacting with journalists after his visit to the centre, he said that the technological progress achieved at the institute—particularly in Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell development—positions India for leadership in next-generation photovoltaics. During his visit, the Minister toured key facilities including the Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell lab, the Silicon Fab, and the Medium Voltage Laboratory. He interacted with researchers and acknowledged the work of IIT-Bombay-incubated startup— Advanced Renewable Tandem-Photovoltaics India (ART-PV India) that has developed a 2-Terminal Monolithic Silicon/CdTe-Perovskite tandem solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 29.8%. 'This is a national milestone and one of the highest performance levels ever achieved in India,' he said. 'NCPRE was launched at IIT Bombay in 2010 with funding from the MNRE to provide R&D and education support for India's ambitious 100 GW solar mission. Till date, MNRE has provided over ₹ 200 crore funding to NCPRE, IIT Bombay, over the last 15 years. MNRE is also supporting ART-PV India with $10 million (₹ 83 crore) for establishing a state-of-the-art pilot manufacturing facility in IIT-B campus, in line with the commitment to nurturing domestic Intellectual Property, and ensuring Indian innovation reaches global markets. MNRE will continue to provide policy and financial support to ensure India's RE sector thrives on innovation and self-reliance,' Mr. Joshi said. 'Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is proud to support NCPRE's pioneering work in high-efficiency, low-cost Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells, a game-changer for India's solar energy future,' he said. He noted that this technology has the potential to achieve more than 30% efficiency, far surpassing conventional solar panels, making India a global leader in next-gen photovoltaics. 'By investing in such innovations, we are driving down the cost of solar energy, making it more accessible for all Indians. India is not just adopting renewable energy but defining its future—through research in perovskite solar cells, Inverter technology, PV-reliability, green hydrogen, and energy storage,' the Minister said. Through initiatives like the Renewable Energy Research & Technology development (RE-RTD) and R&D funding schemes, MNRE is enabling institutions like NCPRE to accelerate lab-to-market transitions, Mr. Joshi said. 'NCPRE's work exemplifies how public-funded research, when coupled with policy support, can position India as a global clean energy hub,' he added. Mr. Joshi urged the IIT Bombay-ART PV team to commercially demonstrate that Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells are not only scalable but also profitable. 'By making advanced technologies accessible to industry, we will not just be driving efficiency but also building a stronger innovation ecosystem. The Union Cabinet approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme just two weeks back, and the budget for Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), stands at ₹ 1.27 lakh crore,' he said.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
India's renewable energy capacity soars 420% in June, solar now cheaper than coal
Mumbai: India's renewable energy sector reported a 420% year-on-year growth in capacity addition in June 2025, rising from 1.4 GW last year to 7.3 GW this year, said Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy. Joshi was speaking at the IVCA Renewable Energy Summit in Mumbai on Tuesday. The minister highlighted that India has witnessed an astonishing 4,000% increase in solar energy capacity , growing from 2.82 GW to 117 GW by 2025. Wind energy capacity also rose from 21 GW to 51.7 GW in the same period, marking a 140% increase. Solar tariffs, however, have declined by 80%-from ₹10.95/unit in 2010-11 to ₹2.15/unit currently. "As a result, even solar with battery storage now costs less than thermal. In 2024, 83% of power sector investments were directed towards renewables. We were the largest recipient of global energy development finance, attracting $2.4 billion for clean energy in a single year." Since 2020, the sector has attracted foreign direct investment exceeding ₹1.6 lakh crore, including ₹42,000 crore in 2023 alone. In the first quarter of 2025, clean energy investment surged 7.7 times year-on-year to $9.8 billion. "Investors who backed this transition have already seen multiple returns. So should you," Joshi said, inviting further capital participation in the sector. Live Events The minister also cited India's largest waste-to-energy plant in Ahmedabad, which converts 1,000 tonnes of solid waste daily into electricity. "These are examples of how India's energy transition is not only sustainable but also inclusive, benefitting cities, farmers, and communities," he added.
Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
New solar cell tech developed at IIT-Bombay a gamechanger: Union minister
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said that new solar cell technology developed at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) is a 'gamechanger' and urged industry players to invest in scaling up the project. In a major boost to works happening in solar energy sector at IIT-B, Joshi announced disbursement of fourth instalment of total funding of Rs 200 crore that was assured more than a decade ago to the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research & Education (NCPRE) — the umbrella body for various research projects in renewable energy sector at the institute. In the current phase of funding, which is expected to bring Rs.83 crore, it will be through Public Private Partnership (PPP) model as government is urging industry players to invest in scaling up the project, particularly the high-efficiency 2-terminal tandem solar cell using a perovskite-silicon combination, achieving about 30 per cent power conversion efficiency, which is significantly higher than the current 20 per cent. Talking about this innovation at the IIT Bombay, the Union minister who visited the NCPRE at IIT-B, said, 'It is a game-changer for India's solar energy future. This makes India a global leader in next-gen photovoltaics and by investing in such innovations, we are driving down the cost of solar energy, making it more accessible for all Indians.' Assuring continuous support from MNRE, Joshi emphasised the need of scaling up of this technology for commercial success. 'Private investment is crucial for large-scale technology development and some of the industry representatives present for the meeting today have shown great interest,' said Joshi. Prof Dinesh Kabra head of the team which has successfully engineered a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell (PSC) said that funding in this phase will be for scaling up of this technology at commercial wafer-size. Further it will be catalysing the support for the future pilot line through which commercialisation will be made possible. 'After having formed the 4-terminal (4T) tandem structure, with this renewed funding the team will now work on developing a 2-terminal tandem structure with support from the manufacturing partner,' he said. The Indian Express had reported about the major breakthrough in the Solar Energy Sector at the IIT Bombay. The semi-transparent perovskite solar cell (PSC) which is layered over a traditional silicon-based solar cell, forming a 4-terminal (4T) tandem structure enables a better energy conversion and durability, especially in India's heat-intensive conditions. Apart from boost in efficiency over conventional solar technology, it has potential to reduce the cost of solar power at around Re 1 per kwh compared with Rs 2.5-4 per unit now.
The Print
9 hours ago
- General
- The Print
Andaman Lt Guv welcomes officials attending fire services class
Among 30 fire service officials, 16 belong to the Gujarat and Bihar state government fire departments, while the other 14 are from Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Maharashtra Industrial Development Organisation, Heavy Water Plant at Kota and Heavy Water Board Facilities at Vadodara under the Department of Atomic Energy. The STC was recently recognised and accredited by the National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur. Port Blair, Jul 15 (PTI) Andaman and Nicobar Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi (Retired) on Tuesday welcomed 30 officials from six organisations across the country, who attended their first class on fire services at the State Training Centre (STC) here. Joshi lauded the Fire and Emergency Services of the archipelago for its commitment to professional excellence and disaster preparedness. He said that the recognition by NFSC is not only a testament to the department's rising stature but also a reflection of its significant contribution in enhancing national fire safety standards, a statement issued by the police said. The STC in Port Blair is the 11th such NFSC-recognised training institute across India. The inauguration programme was held in presence of Chief Secretary Dr Chandra Bhushan Kumar, DGP Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, IGP (Fire) Sindhu Pillai A and other senior officials. The DGP emphasised that this milestone significantly raises the profile of the A&N Fire and Emergency Services at the national level. 'The 54th External Sub-Officer Course of NFSC is a 25-week residential programme, including an industrial attachment,' he said. PTI SN NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hans India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
IIT Bombay startup's new solar cell will be game-changer for India: Pralhad Joshi
Mumbai: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said IIT-Bombay-incubated startup - Advanced Renewable Tandem-Photovoltaics India (ART-PV India) has developed a 2-Terminal Monolithic Silicon/CdTe-Perovskite tandem solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 29.8 per cent, which is a game-changer for the country's solar energy future. 'This technology has the potential to achieve more than 30 per cent efficiency, far surpassing conventional solar panels, making India a global leader in next-gen photovoltaics, and by investing in such innovations, we are driving down the cost of solar energy, making it more accessible for all Indians,' the minister said. 'This is a national milestone and one of the highest performance levels ever achieved in India,' he remarked. The minister visited the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) in IIT Bombay and held an interactive meeting with its Investigators and Advisory Board Members. He took a look at the Perovskite Tandem solar cell lab, Silicon Fab laboratory and Medium voltage Laboratory at NCPRE and interacted with the scientists. NCPRE was launched at IIT Bombay in 2010 with funding from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) of the Government of India. The broad objectives of NCPRE are to provide R&D and education support for India's ambitious 100 GW solar mission. MNRE has provided over Rs 200 crore in funding to NCPRE, IIT Bombay, over the last 15 years. MNRE is also supporting ART-PV India with $10 million ( about Rs 83 crore) for establishing a state-of-the-art pilot manufacturing facility on the IIT-B campus, in line with the commitment to nurturing domestic Intellectual Property, and ensuring Indian innovation reaches global markets. MNRE will continue to provide policy and financial support to ensure India's RE sector thrives on innovation and self-reliance, said Pralhad Joshi. Joshi said, "The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is proud to support NCPRE's pioneering work in high-efficiency, low-cost Silicon-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells, a game-changer for India's solar energy future.' At a time when the world is seeking efficient, affordable, and scalable solar energy solutions, this innovation gives India a leadership edge, he added. He said that this is not just a lab-scale breakthrough, it is a blueprint for clean, scalable, and Aatamnirbhar energy production. India is not just adopting renewable energy but defining its future through research in perovskite solar cells, Inverter technology, PV-reliability, green hydrogen, and energy storage, he added. Joshi said that the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) was committed to advancing cutting-edge renewable energy technologies under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, ensuring India leads in clean energy innovation. In this respect, MNRE's support to premier institutions like NCPRE, IIT Bombay, strengthens domestic R&D, reducing reliance on imported technology and fostering indigenous manufacturing. Through initiatives like the Renewable Energy Research & Technology development (RE-RTD) and R&D funding schemes, MNRE is enabling institutions like NCPRE to accelerate lab-to-market transitions, further stated Joshi. He added that NCPRE's work exemplifies how public-funded research, when coupled with policy support, can position India as a global clean energy hub. Highlighting MNRE's Strategic Support for R&D & Commercialisation, Joshi urged the IIT Bombay-ART PV team to commercially demonstrate that Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells are not only scalable but also profitable. 'By making advanced technologies accessible to industry, we will not just be driving efficiency, but also building a stronger innovation ecosystem,' he said. Joshi further stated that this approach aligns perfectly with the larger vision of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to turn Indian R&D into global benchmarks. He stated that the Union Cabinet approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme just two weeks back, and the budget for Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), stands at Rs. 1.27 lakh crore. IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare, NCPRE Principal Investigators (PIs) Prof. Baylon G. Fernandes and Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki, and ART-PV India Co-Founder Prof. Dinesh Kabra were present on the occasion.
