India achieves solar milestone with 29.8% efficient cell developed by IIT-B startup as Pralhad Joshi calls it a game-changer for the nation

A breakthrough in solar energy from an IIT Bombay‑incubated startup is poised to transform India’s renewable energy landscape. Advanced Renewable Tandem‑Photovoltaics India (ART‑PV India), born out of the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE), has achieved a remarkable 29.8% conversion efficiency using a Silicon/CdTe‑Perovskite tandem solar cell. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, praised this innovation as a “game‑changer” for India’s clean energy ambitions.

Pathbreaking Efficiency Milestone:

ART‑PV India’s novel two‑terminal monolithic tandem structure layers a perovskite cell over a silicon base, capturing a broader spectrum of sunlight. This enables conversion rates nearly 10 percentage points higher than conventional panels that average around 20% . The technology is now approaching and potentially surpassing the critical 30% efficiency threshold.

Innovation Backed by Strong Institutional Support:

The National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay, operational since 2010, has received over ₹200 crore from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for cutting‑edge solar R&D.. Complementing this foundation, MNRE has pledged an additional ₹83 crore (approximately US $10 million) to establish a pilot manufacturing facility on campus, accelerating lab‑scale ingenuity to commercial reality.

Vision for Commercial Scale-Up:

Minister Joshi emphasized that the innovation is not merely academic, it’s “a blueprint for clean, scalable, and self-reliant energy production.” He urged heavy industry involvement through public‑private partnerships to ensure that this technology is not only produced at scale but also cost-effective and profitable. NCPRE and ART‑PV India are now working toward scalable wafer‑size, two‑terminal tandem cells ready for real-world deployment

Economic and Social Impact:

Beyond record efficiency, the tandem design promises to reduce solar electricity tariffs to approximately ₹1/unit less than half the current cost range of ₹2.5–4/unit. With affordability, higher yield, and domestic technology at its core, this breakthrough supports India’s vision of energy sovereignty under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

India’s Leadership in Global Solar Innovation:

This innovation positions India on the frontier of next-generation photovoltaics. Minister Joshi noted that India is not just adopting global clean energy trends but actively defining them through advancements like perovskite tandem cells, inverters, storage, and green hydrogen. The added push from MNRE’s R&D and commercialization schemes further bolsters India’s role as a global clean energy powerhouse.