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					</table><p>Union <a href="https://powermin.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minister for Power</a> and <a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New &amp; Renewable Energy</a> R. K. Singh  has said the government aims to add 80 GW of thermal power capacity by 2031-32, reiterating that renewables alone are not enough to meet India&#8217;s surging power demands.</p>
<p>He told a conference of energy sector stakeholders that since nuclear capacity cannot be added at a rapid pace, coal-based thermal capacity has to be augmented to meet the energy needs.</p>
<p>“We have 27 GW under construction, and we had thought that we will add another 25 GW. But, we have decided that we will start work on at least 55 GW – 60 GW of thermal capacity. As <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/indias-power-demand-rise-sharply-256-gw-2024-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demand</a> keeps accelerating, we will keep adding this capacity,” he said.</p>
<p>“Thermal cannot be written off until energy storage becomes viable. So, thermal is going to stay until energy storage becomes cost-effective for round-the-clock supply through renewable energy,” the minister said.</p>
<p>Recently, Singh stated India cannot be <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/cop28-indias-coal-to-clean-commitments-jeopardy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pressured</a> into reducing its coal usage to generate electricity.</p>
<p>According to the National Electricity Plan projections for 2022-32, India needs to reach 283 GW of coal and lignite-based installed capacity by 2031-32, up from the current 214 GW.</p>
<p>Singh exhorted the states to ensure they have enough thermal capacity in place by extending the life of thermal projects and through innovation and modernization. “If you do not maintain your thermal capacity and instead expect us to give power from the central reserve, that is not going to happen. We will allocate additional power to those states which are maintaining and running their capacities.”</p>
<p>Given the power needs, the industry will keep getting orders for thermal capacity addition for the next 5 to 7 years. The minister said thermal energy was written off a few years ago, which was premature.</p>
<p>The minister said a payment security mechanism which does not have any parallel anywhere in the world has been put in place. Payments are guaranteed within 75 days; current dues are 100% up to date, and even the legacy dues are also being paid.</p>
<p>He assured power developers that the future power requirements of the distribution companies would be collated and shared with them so that they could ramp up capacity.</p>
<p>Recognizing concerns raised by EPC vendors regarding the bidding process, the minister assured them that their issues would be addressed. Equipment suppliers voiced concerns about credit shortages, bank guarantees, qualifying requirements, and technical specifications.</p>


Renewables Alone Cannot Meet Power Needs, Thermal Here to Stay: R K Singh


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					</table><p>Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy&#8217;s (<a href="https://www.energy.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DOE</a>) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (<a href="https://www.nrel.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NREL</a>) have published a study that reveals how sound waves could play a pivotal role in making solar cells more affordable for earth-bound applications.</p>
<p>The team said III-V solar cells are a type of solar cell technology with exceptional efficiency, named after the elements from groups III and V of the periodic table used in their fabrication.</p>
<p>However, the high cost associated with manufacturing III-V solar cells has confined their use mainly to space applications, powering satellites, and spacecraft.</p>
<p>The new research introduces a novel manufacturing process called acoustic spalling, which can potentially reduce the cost of producing highly efficient III-V solar cells.</p>
<p>Unlike existing methods that use a sacrificial etch layer to lift off the solar cell from the gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrate, acoustic spalling enables a controlled fracture within the substrate nearly parallel to its surface.</p>
<p>This fracture allows for the easy removal of the cell without leaving any residue, resulting in a contaminant-free surface that eliminates the need for expensive polishing.</p>
<p>The process&#8217;s speed is one of its key advantages. While the existing method takes hours, acoustic spalling takes seconds to create the fracture, making it efficient and cost-effective.</p>
<p>The technique has been designed to minimize the formation of large facets on the substrate. The result is a smoother surface that can be readily used to grow a new solar cell with minimal or no surface repreparation.</p>
<p><strong>Substrate Reuse and Cost Reduction</strong></p>
<p>The potential for substrate reuse is the most promising aspect of acoustic spalling. By enabling the repeated use of substrates, the cost associated with manufacturing III-V solar cells can be substantially reduced.</p>
<p>Kevin Schulte, a scientist in NREL&#8217;s High-Efficiency Crystalline PV group and the lead author of the research article, emphasizes that while acoustic spalling alone may not make III-V solar cells entirely cost-effective, it is part of a comprehensive research portfolio aimed at addressing cost from multiple angles.</p>
<p>The technology behind acoustic spalling was developed at <a href="https://www.asu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arizona State University</a> and is being commercialized by <a href="https://xtalsonic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crystal Sonic Inc</a>, a Phoenix-based company.</p>
<p>The NREL-certified efficiency of a cell manufactured on a previously spalled substrate reached 26.9%, comparable to what can be achieved with a brand-new substrate.</p>
<p>Recently a team of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/aluminum-anodes-show-promise-powerful-batteries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">took</a> a novel approach, utilizing aluminum foil to create solid-state batteries with increased energy density and stability compared to the widely used lithium-ion technology.</p>
<p>Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/aluminium-sulfur-batteries-outperform-lithium-ion-mit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">developed</a> a new battery made from aluminum and sulfur, two of the nature-abundant and cost-friendly materials.</p>


NREL’s Research Reveals Potential of Sound Waves to Make Cheaper Solar Cells

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