Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Visits IIT Bombay’s NCPRE, Hails Breakthrough in Solar Technology

Mumbai: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution,Pralhad Joshi, visited the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay today, where he interacted with researchers and reviewed India’s emerging leadership in solar energy technology. The visit marked a significant moment in India’s journey toward a self-reliant and innovation-driven clean energy future.

During the visit, the Minister inspected key research facilities at NCPRE including the Perovskite Tandem Solar Cell Lab, Silicon Fabrication Laboratory, and the Medium Voltage Laboratory. He also held an interactive session with NCPRE’s investigators and Advisory Board members.

A major highlight of the visit was the demonstration of a technological milestone by ART-PV India, an IIT Bombay-incubated startup, which has developed a 4-terminal Silicon/CdTe-Perovskite tandem solar cell with a conversion efficiency of 29.8% — one of the highest ever achieved in India. Shri Joshi lauded the breakthrough, calling it a national achievement and a “blueprint for clean, scalable, and Aatma Nirbhar energy production.”

Addressing the media after the visit, Shri Joshi said, “The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is proud to support NCPRE’s pioneering work in developing high-efficiency, low-cost silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells. This is a game-changer for India’s solar energy future. It gives India a leadership edge at a time when the world is looking for efficient, scalable, and affordable solar solutions.”

NCPRE, launched in 2010 with funding from MNRE, has received over ₹200 crore in research support over the past 15 years. The centre plays a critical role in supporting India’s 100 GW solar mission by facilitating advanced R&D, education, and industry collaborations in solar technology.

MNRE is also extending significant support to ART-PV India, with $10 million (~₹83 crore) sanctioned for setting up a state-of-the-art pilot manufacturing facility on the IIT Bombay campus. This initiative aligns with India’s commitment to nurturing domestic intellectual property and turning research into globally competitive technologies.

Shri Joshi emphasized that India is not just adopting renewable energy but defining its future through cutting-edge R&D in perovskite solar cells, inverter technologies, green hydrogen, energy storage, and photovoltaic reliability. He underlined that MNRE’s support for institutions like NCPRE reflects the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and is essential for reducing dependence on imported technologies.

He also referenced the Union Cabinet’s recent approval of the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, which supports India’s growing investment in R&D with a budget of ₹1.27 lakh crore under Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD).

Joshi called on the IIT Bombay and ART-PV India teams to demonstrate that Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells are not just lab-scale innovations but scalable, commercially viable solutions. “With advanced technology being made accessible to industry, we are not only increasing efficiency but building a robust innovation ecosystem for the country,” he said.

IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare, NCPRE Principal Investigator Prof. Baylon G. Fernandes, and ART-PV India Co-founder Prof. Dinesh Kabra were present during the visit and welcomed the Minister’s recognition of their ongoing efforts.