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					</table><p>SJVN <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/sjvn-issues-2-4-mw-rooftop-solar-tender-in-arunachal-pradesh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invited</a> bids to install 2.378 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects at various locations in Arunachal Pradesh under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Bids must be submitted by July 9, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same date. The scope of work entails preparing the project’s site survey, feasibility report, and access plans. It also involves the design, storage, civil works (including construction materials and water), installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar projects.</p>
<p>Solar module manufacturing lines under the domestic content requirement category are <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/industry-says-gap-between-solar-cell-and-module-manufacturing-capacity-a-concern" target="_blank" rel="noopener">booked</a> for the upcoming three to four months, said industry experts at Mercom India’s recent RE Buyer-Seller Meet, held in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Mercom India hosts these events to provide a platform for clean energy buyers to engage directly with carefully selected vendors offering localized, high-quality solar solutions. The Coimbatore meet featured two sessions, during which industry experts discussed various aspects of solar energy.</p>
<p>A recent study by the University of Utah <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/researchers-discover-potential-of-hybrid-perovskites-to-make-solar-cells" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> the potential of phase-transitioned hybrid perovskites for use in solar cell manufacturing. The research was led by Perry Martin, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry’s Bischak Lab at the University of Utah. The study was published under the research paper titled “Coupled optical and structural properties of two-dimensional metal-halide perovskites across phase transitions” in the journal <em>Matter</em>. The U.S. Department of Energy funded this research.</p>
<p>The European Investment Bank (EIB) <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/eib-pledges-e1-6-billion-for-france-spain-electricity-interconnection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledged</a> €1.6 billion (~$1.84 billion) to finance the construction of the Bay of Biscay electricity interconnection between France and Spain. This financing will be completed as loans to the Spanish Red Eléctrica and the French RTE Réseau de transport d’électricité transmission-system operators. The first loan tranche of €1.2 billion (~$1.38 billion) was signed at EIB’s headquarters in Luxembourg. This loan adds to the co-funding of €578 million (~$665.15) for the project under the Connecting Europe Facility.</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: SJVN Floats Tender for 2.4 MW Rooftop Solar in Arunachal Pradesh


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					</table><p>A recent study by the <a href="https://www.utah.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Utah</a> has revealed the potential of phase-transitioned hybrid perovskites for use in solar cell manufacturing.</p>
<p>The research was led by Perry Martin, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry’s Bischak Lab at the University of Utah.</p>
<p>The study was published under the research paper titled “Coupled optical and structural properties of two-dimensional metal-halide perovskites across phase transitions” in the journal <em>Matter</em>.</p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Energy funded this research.</p>
<p>The study utilized Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites, a type of layered material composed of alternating sheets of inorganic and organic components, to conduct the research.</p>
<p>Researchers studied the phase transition behaviors of perovskites when the temperature was altered using techniques such as temperature-dependent absorption and emission spectroscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction.</p>
<p>A phase transition is a discrete change of matter from one state to another.</p>
<p>When heated, this type of perovskite can be altered from a crystalline to a disordered state.</p>
<p>The researchers observed that hybrid perovskites that have undergone a phase transition can be mixed with solvents to print solar cells.</p>
<p>They also discovered that perovskites can be manipulated at a molecular level, and the emission wavelength can be tuned from ultraviolet to near-infrared.</p>
<p>It was found that phase transition can also lead to controllable changes in the light’s wavelength, which can be utilized to design tunable light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and other electronic devices.</p>
<p>These hybrid perovskites can provide an alternative solution to the energy-intensive manufacturing processes required for producing solar cells.</p>
<p>Additionally, this technology enables the retrofitting of existing solar cells with perovskites to enhance their efficiency.</p>
<p>In May 2025, a study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/nrel-claims-a-boost-in-perovskite-solar-cell-efficiency-using-ionic-salt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed</a> it improved perovskite solar cell technology performance by replacing the commonly used fullerene electron transport layer with a newly synthesized ionic salt, commonly referred to as CPMAC.</p>
<p>In 2024, researchers at Northwestern University <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/novel-liquid-crystals-efficiency-perovskite-solar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">discovered</a> that large-scale perovskite films, commonly used in solar technology, can be protected by liquid crystals that respond to temperature changes, preventing precipitation accumulation.</p>


Researchers Discover Potential of Hybrid Perovskites to Make Solar Cells


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					</table><p><strong><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ntpc-tranche-iii-solar-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apraava Energy, Avaada Energy, ReNew Solar Power (ReNew), and JSW Neo Energy have won NTPC’s auction to set up 1,500 MW of interstate transmission system-connected solar power projects (Tranche III) across India.</a></strong> Apraava quoted the lowest tariff of ₹2.68 (~$0.0322)/kWh to win 50 MW. Avaada and ReNew won 750 MW and 300 MW, respectively, at a tariff of ₹2.69 (~$0.0323)/kWh. JSW was awarded 400 MW out of the 700 MW quoted capacity at a tariff of ₹2.69 (~$0.0323)/kWh. NTPC floated the tender in February 2024.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/ci-project-may-lose-on-savings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mercom India held its first Virtual C&amp;I Clean Energy Meet on May 22, 2024, focusing on tackling the increasing demand for clean energy solutions among major power consumers in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.</strong></a> The event provided crucial insights into cost-saving strategies and facilitated meaningful interactions between clean energy solution providers and commercial and industrial consumers. The event addressed various aspects of power requirements, highlighting cost benefits, potential challenges, opportunities, and effective solutions. Participants gained exposure to the latest advancements in clean energy technologies designed to reduce operational costs and a deeper understanding of the benefits of transitioning to clean energy and the principles of environmental sustainability.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/researchers-find-mixed-stability-in-solar-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Researchers have combined ortho-carborane with perovskite cells to improve thermal stability and retained 80% of their initial efﬁciencies. A team of researchers from Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST) in China and Canada’s University of Toronto</strong></a> have focused on the thermal stability challenges in mixed tin (Sn)-lead (Pb) perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Thermal stability is a critical issue posing a barrier to the widespread commercialization of PSCs, even as mixed Sn-Pb has emerged as a promising material for single and multi-junction solar cells. The study, published recently in Nature Communications journal, focused on a novel thermal regulation strategy using ortho-carborane, an electron-delocalized carbon-boron molecule known for its efficient heat transfer capability</p>


Daily News Wrap-Up: Winners of NTPC’s 1.5 GW Tranche III Solar Auction


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					</table><p>Researchers at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (<a href="https://www.zsw-bw.de/en/about-us.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ZSW</a>) in Germany coated a large area of perovskite solar cells with a green solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), achieving a power conversion efficiency of 16.7%.</p>
<p>Perovskite solar cells exhibit potent properties that make them a substitute for crystalline silicon in photovoltaics. But utilizing certain solvents like dimethylformamide (DMF) can affect the life cycle of photovoltaics, adversely impacting workers&#8217; health.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://european-union.europa.eu/index_en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (<a href="https://www.bmwk.de/Navigation/EN/Home/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BMWK</a>) funded the research.</p>
<p>The experiment titled &#8216;One-Step Blade Coating of Inverted Double-Cation Perovskite Solar Cells from a Green Precursor Solvent&#8217; was published in the <a href="https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Chemical Society</a>&#8216;s Journal of <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/journal/aaemcq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applied Energy Materials</a>.</p>
<p>Perovskites have the same crystal structure as the eponymous natural minerals. Researchers have used solar cells with perovskite layers as the light-absorbing material for some time.</p>
<p>However, perovskite precursors must first be dissolved and applied in uniform layers to the substrate to derive the best benefit.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37925" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Inverted-Double-Cation-Perovskite-Solar-Cells.gif" alt="Inverted Double-Cation Perovskite Solar Cells" width="500" height="250" /></p>
<h6 style="text-align: center;">Source: ACS Publications</h6>
<p><strong>Blade coating perovskite solar cells with DMSO</strong></p>
<p>Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is one such solvent that the experts at the German research center found to be benign. The ZSW team used DMSO and achieved a power conversion efficiency of 16.7% on a 0.24 cm2 active perovskite area, close to the efficiency of 16.9% with the DMF solvent that is considered toxic. The researchers used the blade coating method, making perovskite solar cells with DMSO scalable to larger production numbers and suitable for industrial applications.</p>
<p>The new research aims to overcome the challenge posed by DMF to scale up the industrial production of perovskite solar cells. With the DMF solvent, cell manufacturers face the challenge of producing and disposing of large amounts of the solvent. At the same time, additional measures are needed to maintain occupational safety, with high operational costs.</p>
<p>The blade coating technique caters to the scalability factor of perovskite solar cells with DMF, distinguishing the process from spin-coated solar cells with record power conversion efficiencies of 25.7%. While spin coating produces efficient cells, the new research pointed out that this technique cannot be implemented for the industrial production of larger modules.</p>
<p>The team found that DMSO has chemical properties suitable for industrial-scale production. However, the ZMW team observed that DMSO has high surface tension and viscosity resulting in an uneven layer deposition on the solar cell. The scientists noted that dimethyl sulfoxide toughens the crystallization process, leading to small perovskite crystals and a cell that yields less solar energy.</p>
<p>To address the above issues, the researchers modified the film formation process and improved the drying method to increase the efficiency of PSCs produced using dimethyl sulfoxide.</p>
<p>The Head of ZSW&#8217;s Photovoltaics: Materials Research department, Jan-Philipp Becker, says, &#8220;We used a surfactant made of silicon oxide nanoparticles to coat the perovskite solar cell and adapted the drying process. The process now produces uniform layers with large crystallites with these two improvements.&#8221;</p>
<p>Becker and the ZSW team are now studying the optimizing techniques to implement the blade coating procedure in perovskite solar modules as large as 30 by 30 square centimeters made with industrial-grade coating methods.</p>
<p>Researchers worldwide are <a href="https://mercomindia.com/engineers-develop-rapid-printing-method/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developing</a> new methods like a rapid printing method to maintain the stability of solar cells while achieving improved PCEs.</p>
<p>In another experiment, scientists from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) <a href="https://mercomindia.com/2d-cations-tin-lead-perovskite-solar-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a new tin-lead perovskite tandem solar cell by combining different layers of two chemical compounds and achieved a power conversion efficiency of 25.5%.</p>


Scientists Use Green Solvent to Achieve 16.7% Efficiency in Perovskite Solar Cells

<p>A team of researchers from the <a href="https://excitonscience.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Australian Research Council Center of Excellence in Exciton Science</a> claimed that they have developed a process that can help enhance the commercial use of perovskite cells. The research tackles bandgap instability due to light-induced phase segregation in mixed-halide perovskites that presents a major challenge for their future commercial use.</p>
<p>According to the research report, light-induced halide segregation is a process that leads to the formation of halide-rich domains and localized variations in the material bandgap. This decreases the charge mobility and carrier lifetime of mixed-halide perovskites.</p>
<p>The researchers explained that high illumination intensities could reverse the photo-induced halide-ion segregation (PHS) to control the bandgap of a mixed-halide perovskite single-crystal through optimizing the input photogenerated carrier density.</p>
<p>“The ability to control the halide-ion composition with light intensity provides new opportunities to utilize mixed-halide perovskites in concentrator as well as tandem solar cells, optical memory applications, and high-power light-emissive devices,” said the researchers.</p>
<p>In the report, the researchers stated that a range of stable photoluminescence (PL) energy could be reached by adjusting the input excitation power, which shows that the halide ion distribution is correlated with the excitation power. Photoluminescence is light emission from any form of matter after the absorption of photons.</p>
<p>The researchers noted that the potential to manipulate the halide-ion distribution with light intensity in perovskites provided a viable method for achieving compositional uniformity in mixed-halide perovskites.</p>
<p>“We provided evidence that the halide-ion distribution in mixed-halide perovskite single crystals can be tuned from a segregated state to a completely homogeneous state by increasing the input carrier density, and we have developed a lattice model that explains this behavior by the presence (or not) of polaron-induced strain gradients,” said the researchers.</p>
<p>In May 2020, the researchers at Iowa State University <a href="https://mercomindia.com/scientists-introduce-way-to-stabilize-perovskite-cells/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">came up</a> with an innovative way to stabilize perovskite cells at high temperatures. They developed a technique that has made the material more stable at higher temperatures.</p>
<p>Previously, Australian scientists, led by members of the ARC Center of Excellence in Exciton Science,<a href="https://mercomindia.com/semi-transparent-perovskite-solar-windows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> published</a> a research paper stating that they had succeeded in producing semi-transparent perovskite solar cells that generate electricity. This breakthrough could allow for windows in buildings and automobiles to generate electricity.</p>
<p>Image credit: Stephan Kambor, CC BY-SA (<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/125x125-pseudo-square-monocrystalline-solar.cell.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2.5</a>)</p>


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