RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION (RD&D) IN SOLAR ENERGY
Research, design, development and technology demonstration for its validation are one of the core requirements for the growth of Solar Energy. Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) supports Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) to develop the technologies, processes, materials, components, sub-systems, products & services, standards and resource assessment so as to indigenously manufacture solar energy systems and devices.
OBJECTIVES
- Research, design, development, standardization and demonstration
- To lower the cost of solar energy systems/devices
- To improve the efficiency, performance and reliability of systems/devices
- To strengthen domestic manufacturing base
- To make the industry globally competitive and solar energy generation supply, self-sustainable/profitable and thereby contribute to increase share in total energy mix in the country.
POLICY AND GUIDELINES
A comprehensive policy framework on Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) is in place to support RD&D in new and renewable energy sector, including associating and supporting RD&D earned out by industry for market development. The policy framework provides guidelines for project identification, formulation, monitoring, appraisal, approval and financial support. The RD&D projects received from R&D/academic institutions, industries, etc. are evaluated through subject experts. The qualifying projects are appraised by R&D Project Appraisal Committees. The projects recommended by the committees are sanctioned to prospective implementing agencies. The projects are monitored by Monitoring Committees. Projects on completion are reviewed in Project Appraisal Committee Meetings for their achievements.
# R&D Policy
CENTRAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (CFA)
Proposal from academic institutions, universities, research institutes, government/non-profit research organisations etc. would be eligible for financial support up to 100% of the total project cost. The financial support to the private institutes/ research organization would be restricted up to 50% of the project cost;
Start-ups, entrepreneurs, Manufacturing units etc. are also be eligible for financial support up to 50% cost of the project for technology development.
| Area | Technology Gap | Research Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Photovoltaic |
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| Solar Thermal Applications |
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ON-GOING-PROJECTS
The following projects are under implementation
| Sl. No. | Name of the Project | Name of the PI and Institution | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Development of High Efficiency selective large area N-Type crystalline silicon solar cell. | Prof. Utpal Gangopadhyay Megnad Saha Institute of Technology, Nazirabad Kolkata. |
Ongoing |
| 2. | Development of Electrode Materials for High Energy Density Lithium ion Batteries and Computational Studies of Solar Absorber layers | Dr. M. Sasidharan, Professor, SRM Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur | Ongoing |
| 3. | “Determination of Wind Forces on Solar Photovoltaic Panels Mounted on Different Types of Roof and on/above Ground in India Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Techniques” | Dr. Hassan Irtaza, Department of Civil Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. | Ongoing |
| 4. | National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) Phase-II | Prof. B G Fernandes and Prof C S Solanki, Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai | Ongoing |
| 5. | “Development and field testing of Solar powered clean drinking water systems for communities without piped water line and electricity” | Dr. O S Shastry, National Institute of Solar Energy and M/s Saurya Enertech, Gurgaon | Ongoing |
| 6. | From Cell towards Module using low cost Organo-Metal Halide Perovskite Materials |
Dr. Shaibal K. Sarkar Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai- | Ongoing |
| 7. | “Process development for fabrication CZTS based solar cell on flexible (Polyimide) substrate’’ | Dr. Udai. P Singh. KIIT University Bhubaneswar. |
Ongoing |
| 8. | “National Primary Standard facility for cell calibration’’ | Dr .Vandana National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Delhi |
Ongoing |
| 9. | “Development of high efficiency (21%/ 19%) PERC type of c-Si/mc-Si solar cells” | Dr. A. K. Saxena, Additional General Manger & Head, BHEL-ASSCP, Gurugram and Dr. Arun K. Tripathi, National Institute of Solar Energy, Gurugram |
Ongoing |
| 10. | Porphyrin@Graphene Quantum Dots sensitized solar cells (PGSSCs) using polypyrrole-graphene composites as counter electrode- A step towards 4G solar cells | Dr. A. K Narula, Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University, Dwarka |
Ongoing |
| 11. | Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells and Intermediate Module | Prof. Shaibal K. Sarkar, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai | Ongoing |
| 12. | Design and Development of ‘High Efficiency Solar Water Pumping Systems | Director General, National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) | Ongoing |
| Sl. No. | Name of the Project | Name of the PI and Institution | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1 MWel. (3.5 MW) solar thermal power plant with 16 hours thermal storage for continuous operation | Mr. GoloPilz, Advisor and Mr Jayasimha, World Renewal Spiritual Trust ,Mumbai |
Ongoing |
| 2. | Setting up facility for calibration of solar radiation measuring sensors and its analysis/ modelling based on ground surface measurements | Director General (DG) NISE Gurugram | Ongoing |
| 3. | Studies on utilization of Solar Energy in Tasar Post Cocoon Technology Operations | Dr. ZMS Khan, Central Tasar Research & Training Institute, Ranchi | Ongoing |
| 4. | Development of high efficiency receiver for supercritical CO2 integrated with static focus parabolic dish | Prof. Pradip Dutta, IISc Bangalore and Dr. B K Jaysimha, World Renewal Spiritual Trust (WRST), Bombay | Ongoing |
| 5. | Design, Development of Supercritical CO2 Turbomachinery for Solar Thermal Power Plants | Dr.-Ing Punit Singh, Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. | Ongoing |
| 6. | System Design, Erection, Testing & Commissioning of 40 kWth and 10 kWe pilot plant aiming at the Feasibility Study of MWe Scale Concentrated Solar Thermal Plant integrated with 24 x 7 Thermal Energy Storage | Dr. V K Sethi, Ram Krishna Dharmarth Foundation University, Bhopal and RPI USA | Ongoing |
| 7. | Unified SRRA | NIWE, Chennai | Ongoing |
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Crystalline silicon solar cell with 18% efficiency had been developed by National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay. Solar inverters of various capacities had also been developed;
- IIT Kanpur has developed organic solar cell;
- World Renewal Spiritual Trust, Mumbai has successfully developed a 1 MWel. (3.5 MW) solar thermal power plant with 16 hours thermal storage for continuous operation;
- IGNOU Community College, Kolkata has installed an innovative floating solar power plant of 10 KWp capacity;
- A Center for Excellence in area of Solar Passive Architecture and Green Building Technologies” at Center for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad. CEPT has developed the Generation of database for Building Materials and Laboratory for testing building materials. This is a first kind of Laboratory in Asia for Green building.
AWARDS FOR INNOVATION
In order to encourage innovation in new and renewable energy, the Ministry will award prizes to deserving individuals/groups on an annual basis.