Public research university and technical institute the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT B) has signed an agreement with telecom infrastructure firm Indus Towers for research initiatives in sustainable energy.
The research will primarily focus on solar power generation and energy storage.
The first initiative will be an effort to develop perovskite (a crystalline material) solar cell technology that might overcome the limitations of conventional silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells.
The aim is to achieve higher efficiency without increasing cell cost. This technology has extensive applications in both terrestrial and space-based solar systems.
The second initiative under this collaboration will aim to develop a scalable method to convert rice straw, an abundant agricultural residue, into what are called doped hard carbon materials.
These materials, when deployed as anodes or additives in sodium-ion batteries, could offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion technology.
There’s an obvious benefit in limiting the environmental hazards of stubble burning but there may also be a chance to strengthen the country's clean energy ecosystem by utilising indigenous, eco-friendly resources.
This isn’t the first ‘green’ initative involving Indus Towers. In 2024 we reported that NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL), a division of Indian state-owned power giant NTPC, had signed an initial pact with Indus Towers, related to the need to pursue green energy objectives and support for the government's efforts towards a carbon-neutral economy.
That memorandum of understanding (MoU) was related to exploring joint development of grid-connected renewable energy-based power projects including solar, wind, energy storage and related solutions.
