Challenges in developing cost-effective, efficient and stable solar energy systems are being tackled by two government-led solar research projects.
Two research projects focused on photovoltaics, launched by the UK and Indian governments, are set to tackle some of the main challenges in developing cost-effective, efficient and stable solar energy systems.
Funded by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and the Government of India (GOI) Department of Science and Technology (DST), each organization has committed up to $7.8 million (£5 million) over a three-year period.
Solar energy has been identified by both the UK and India as an area of significance in providing solutions to the problem of meeting future energy needs. It was highlighted in the UK’s 2007 Energy White Paper as one of the technologies that will help the country meet its 20% renewable targets by 2020.
The ‘Advancing the efficiency and production potential of excitonic solar cells’ project will focus on the development of materials, device structures, materials processing and photovoltaic-panel engineering of excitonic solar cells. It will build on existing research in both the UK and India to develop cheaper and scalable solar cell manufacture. The project has been awarded $3.9 million (£2.5) million by RCUK, which is matched by DST. Excitonic solar cells (ESCs) are a class of non-conventional solar cells based on organic and nanostructured materials.
A second project, ‘Stability and performance of photovoltaics’, aims to remove known bottlenecks in materials supply and develop novel device designs that are significantly cheaper and more efficient than current solar cells. The RCUK grant value is £2.4 million, which is equaled by DST.
Dr Neil Bateman, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Energy Portfolio Manager said: “These projects represent a new and exciting collaboration between some of the leading photovoltaics researchers in the UK and India. The research is targeted at pushing the science of solar energy towards cheaper, more reliable and sustainable electricity production in a wide variety of settings.”
The projects form part of the RCUK Energy Programme led by EPSRC and the Solar Energy Research Initiative of the DST (GOI), and are in line with an ongoing goal of strengthening collaboration between UK and Indian research institutions.
The research groups comprise leading universities in the UK and Institutes in India, plus companies from both countries.
Advancing the Efficiency and Production Potential of Excitonic Solar Cells (APEX)
Lead institutions are the National Physical Laboratory (India) and Loughborough University (UK).
Indian research partners are:
- National Chemical Laboratory
- Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
UK research partners are:
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Cambridge
- University of Oxford
- Imperial College London.
Other partners are:
- India
- Moser-Baer
- Bharat Heavy Electrical
- The Solar Energy Centre
- UK
- Pilkington Group,
- DuPont Teijin Films
- G-24i
- The Solar Press.
Stability and Performance of Photovoltaics (STAPP)
Lead institutions are IIT Bombay (India) and Loughborough University (UK).
Indian research partners are:
- IIT Bombay
- Solar Energy Centre
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Kanpur.
UK research partners are:
- University of Strathclyde
- Northumbria University
- Loughborough University
- Imperial College London.
Other partners are:
- India
- Reliance Industries
- HVV Solar Technologies
- West Bengal Green Energy Development Corporation
- Solar Semiconductors
- Tata BP Solar India
- Shurjo Energy
- BHEL and Lancosolar
- UK
- IPSoL Test
- Solar Century Global Community Trust
- New and Renewable Energy Centre
- Leapfrog
- IT Power
- PerkinElmer
- European Commission Directorate-General Joint Research Centre
- Italy
- Institute for Energy Renewable Energy Unit.
For comprehensive details of the project partners view UK-India solar grants - Project Partners
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing more than £850 million a year in a broad range of subjects – from mathematics to materials science, and from information technology to structural engineering.
Research Councils UK is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and the third sector.
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
For further information contact
EPSRC Press Office (UK)
Tel: +44 (0)1793 444404
Tel: +44 (0)1793 444404
Research Councils UK India
Naomi Beaumont
Naomi Beaumont
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