| Work Detail |
ART-PV India, an IIT-Bombay-incubated startup specializing in high-efficiency solar cells, is setting up a $10 million fabrication facility for manufacturing commercial tandem solar cells at IIT-Bombay. The project is being funded by multiple sources, including the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), through IIT-Bombay. Art-PV has developed an advanced tandem solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 29.8%, significantly higher than the 23% efficiency of conventional photovoltaic (PV) cells. The innovative cell, known as a ‘2-Terminal Monolithic Silicon/CdTe-Perovskite’ cell, absorbs a broader spectrum of light wavelengths, enhancing energy conversion. It consists of a silicon base layered with cadmium telluride (CdTe) and perovskite-structured material. Perovskite materials, while highly efficient, have stability challenges. To improve durability, Art-PV integrates perovskite onto a commercially available silicon cell, a method that enhances both efficiency and reliability. The startup has partnered with solar manufacturers First Solar and Waaree, who will help develop and commercialize the technology in exchange for preferential licensing rights. First Solar operates a thin-film PV plant near Chennai, while Waaree specializes in crystalline silicon-based PV cells. The technology is compatible with both thin-film and crystalline PV systems. Art-PV’s tandem cell is currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 (prototype demonstration) or TRL 7 (demonstration in an operational environment). A 2 MW pilot plant is planned at IIT-Bombay to advance commercialization. The company was incubated at the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), an initiative dedicated to fostering deep-tech startups. |
