June 3, 2009

Lab on cheaper solar power to be set up

KOLAKTA, 31 MAY: In a bid to reduce the price of photovoltaic solar cells, the Green Energy Corporation, in collaboration with the West Bengal Science and Technology Council, will set up a Nano solar cell laboratory. The laboratory will come up on the Calcutta University campus in Salt Lake. 

The corporation has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Catholic University of America to provide technological support and the project is expected to be completed within six months. Researchers from abroad and scientists working in the corporation will work in the new laboratory. 

Mr SP Gon Chaudhuri, managing director of the corporation, said there was a need to set up such a laboratory for Nano solar cell research as various studies claimed that efficiency of the Nano solar cell was higher compared to ordinary solar cells. 

Experts are of the opinion that if Nano technology can be used to prepare photovoltaic solar cells, the price will be cheaper. The cost of one watt of a solar cell is Rs 120 but using Nano technology the cost will go down to Rs 80 per watt. 

The members of the corporation have also decided to send a proposal to the Union ministry of new and renewable energy so that they can provide funds for the project. 

The project cost is Rs 6 crore and till now they have managed to procure Rs one crore. With the increase in demand for power supply, experts feel there is a need to set up more such laboratories in collaboration with private bodies to meet the dearth of electricity. The advantages of using solar cells is that residents can get electric power directly from the sun without polluting the atmosphere.

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