India’s premier technology institute, IIT Bombay (IITB), has recently announced the development of a lab-scale silicon–perovskite tandem solar cell with a power conversion efficiency of up to 30%. The project is a joint effort between IITB and Advanced Renewable Tandem Photovoltaic (ART-PV), a startup incubated at SINE-IITB under the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research & Education (NCPRE).
A silicon–perovskite tandem solar cell is a next-generation high-efficiency photovoltaic device that combines a perovskite top cell with a silicon bottom cell, enabling it to capture a broader portion of the solar spectrum than conventional single-junction cells. The semi-transparent perovskite top layer absorbs high-energy, short-wavelength photons (such as blue and green light), while the underlying crystalline silicon (c-Si) cell captures the lower-energy, long-wavelength photons (such as red and infrared light) that pass through.
The reported tandem cell follows a 4-terminal (4T) configuration, where the perovskite and silicon layers are stacked non-monolithically, allowing independent optimization of each sub-cell. Notably, the device has demonstrated operational stability with a lifespan of up to 10 years.
Professor Dinesh Kabra of IITB remarked, “Perovskite solar cells are known for their high power conversion efficiency and low production cost; however, they have traditionally lacked stability and degraded faster than conventional solar cells. We have successfully fabricated a stable perovskite tandem solar cell that not only addresses these issues but also boosts the overall efficiency up to 30%. Simulation studies suggest it could theoretically reach as high as 45%.”
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), a state government think tank promoting the initiative, is in discussions with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Asian Investment Bank to secure funding for a pilot project. The proposal includes establishing a 300 MW silicon–perovskite tandem cell manufacturing plant in Uran, Maharashtra.
Pravin Pardeshi, CEO of MITRA, emphasized the significance of the breakthrough: “This development could redefine the landscape of solar cell manufacturing. At present, China dominates the market, but with perovskite being abundant, India has the potential to lead in this emerging sector. We are currently in talks with banks to finance the pilot project.”
