Solar energy to electricity at IIT-B

A national photovoltaic research and education centre, a first of its kind in the country, is being set up at IIT Bombay. Photovoltaics is the science and technology of converting solar energy directly to electricity.

“IIT Bombay has been emphasising on energy for many years now. With our experience in the department of energy science and engineering and Centre of Excellence in nanoelectronics, it was felt that IIT Bombay is ideally placed to initiate a major new activity in this area as it combines silicon technology and energy,” said professor Juzer Vasi, who is involved in the project.

While the concept emerged in the middle of 2009 at IIT Bombay, the government came out with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in November 2009, which mentions the creation of such a centre at IIT Bombay.

The solar mission plans for a national target of 20 gigawatt of solar generation capacity by 2020 and the estimated manpower requirement is 100,000.

“The centre will look at research, education and manpower training in the photovoltaics area in an integrated manner. It will provide support to JNNSM which has a major national agenda and international significance and seeks to catapult India to one of the world’s major solar energy powerhouses by 2020,” said Vasi. 

A proposal is being submitted to the ministry of new and renewable energy. “The exact cost is being worked out,” said Vasi.