Bengal seeks nano solar cell project

West Bengal Green Energy Corporation Limited (WBGECL), the state's nodal renewable energy agency, is is keen to get investors to produce nano technology photovoltaic (PV) solar cell and undertake related research and development (R&D) in collaboration with foreign universities.

The nano PV cells increase solar cell effeciency and in turn reduce overall cost of solar power generation.

At present, solar power generation was based on crystalline PV solar cells, with efficiency ratio of 16 per cent, and cost as high as Rs 14 crore per megawatt (mw). Power generation using thin film PV solar cells had higher efficiency ratio and cost around Rs 12 crore per megawatt, said S P Gonchaudhuri, MD of WBGECL. A farm making 1 mw of solar power using crystalline PV cells needed four acres but the same amount of power could be produced using thin film PV cells on 6-7 acres.

Land cost and cost of power using low effeciency PV cells could be significantly reduced if nanotechnology PV solar cells were used, said Chaudhuri.

Nanotechnology PV cells were in use in USA, Japan and Germany. Nano technology solar cell were the third generation solar PV cells and offered 30-34 per cent efficiency in labs.

WBGECL recently signed a three year preliminary contractual agreement with an American University to set up joint R&D lab facility in association with Calcutta University at an estimated investment of Rs 7-8 crore as a part of the Asia Pacific Environment Protection Project.

This US government project was for providing technical and financial support to developing countries on nano R&D.

Under the agreement, six Indian scientists would be trained on how to set up a nano techonology R&D lab and Calcutta University would provide technical and financial support, claimed Chaudhuri.

“We are open to other foreign countries for such tie-ups for the development of nanotechnology PV solar cells in our state as it will reduce cost of solar power generation projects ultimately,” he added.

At present the project will be on lab scale.

WBGECL hoped to commercialise it by 2010 with industry tie-ups.