MANDI, 18th July 2024: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have identified the most sustainable and profitable solar cell technologies for India.
Their comprehensive study, now published in the Journal of Environmental Management, provides crucial insights for investors and policymakers.
Between 2010 and 2020, India's clean energy sector grew significantly, driven by initiatives like the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted solar projects worth INR 160 billion. Post-COP-26, India's focus shifted to boosting green solar manufacturing to ensure supply chain reliability, energy security, and decarbonization.
The study, led by Dr. Atul Dhar and Dr. Satvasheel Ramesh Powar from IIT Mandi, along with Dr. Shweta Singh, analyzed five solar technologies: Mono-silicon, Polysilicon, Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS), Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), and Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC).
The team assessed these technologies under Indian manufacturing conditions using a Life Cycle Assessment tool, which looked at environmental impacts from raw material extraction to panel manufacturing.
Dr. Dhar noted that while solar PV systems are cleaner than fossil fuels during use, they still have significant environmental impacts during manufacturing.
The study found CdTe technology to be the greenest, with the lowest carbon emissions, ozone depletion potential, and human health risks. CIGS cells followed closely.
Dr. Powar emphasized that these findings can guide policymakers to promote the most sustainable solar technologies, supporting a low-carbon economy.
The team plans to study the recycling and end-of-life phases of solar panels in future research.
