The central government has provided funding to IIT Bombay and BHEL for the research and development of solar cells.

 

IIT Bombay

 

Union Power Minister, R.K.Singh has said in the Rajya Sabha, “Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) is developing Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) solar cells with an efficiency of 21%. With this, Researchers at the National Center for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay are developing crystalline silicon solar cells with targeted efficiency of 22% also.

Further, he added, “The government has provided financial support to several research institutes and industries for the research and development of solar cells and modules, aiming to enhance the cells’ efficiency, reduce costs, and develop new technologies.”

Mr. Singh said about the pandemic’s impact on the solar power sector, “Solar power projects have been delayed because of the disruption caused by the COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has been recognized as Force Majeure, and MNRE has given a time extension of five months from March 25, 2020, to August 24, 2020, for renewable energy projects.”

To boost India’s production capabilities and export, the government approved the production-linked incentive program in ten sectors, including high-efficiency solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, in November 2020. As a part of the program, the government intended to provide ₹796.42 billion in the next five years to several sectors like high-efficiency solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cells (ACC) battery, and automobiles and auto components.

In the Union Budget 2021, the government committed to providing about ₹1.97 trillion over the next five years from the financial year 2021-22 to help bring scale and size to the solar PV manufacturing sector and generate new job opportunities. As a part of the commitment, ₹45 billion would be provided for high-efficiency solar PV module manufacturing.

 

Resource MERCOM India

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