Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS) has been unveiled in the country, the project is being developed jointly by IIT Bombay and industry of both India and US. The scientists at the institute, which includes a contingent from IIT-B, are expected to develop innovative, low-cost and effective solution to meet energy needs.
The institute has been established by the Indian government, through its department of science and technology and the US department of energy. Both of them have decided to invest $25 million over a period of five years, and there are 30 companies from India and US, who will give another $25 million.
The centre is expected to gather data on thrust areas like; sustainable photovoltaics, establishment of multi-scale concentrated solar power (CSP) systems and solar energy integration. Kamanio Chattopadhyay, co-founder, SERIIUS, has called it a “programme without borders”, which “may lead to a paradigm shift in solar energy technology.”
SERIIUS in India, will be led by Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the US. Apart from these two, the industry and academic partners include General Electric, Hindustan Petroleum, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and IIT Madras.
The centre will be a virtual platform for interaction and will be working jointly on projects. IIT Bombay is part of the research thrust leadership for the initiative. “Recent research shows India’s needs can be met with renewable energy, of which solar can be a big part. We are happy to be associated with this initiative,” said director Devang Khakhar, adding that IIT Bombay has been involved in solar energy research through its National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education.
