IIT Bombay partners with Indus Towers for sustainable energy research

30 April 2025

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT B), a leading public research university and technical institute, has entered into a collaborative agreement with telecom infrastructure firm Indus Towers focused on advancing research in sustainable energy. This partnership will primarily target solar power generation and energy storage solutions.

The first initiative centres on the development of perovskite solar cell technology, which has the potential to address the limitations associated with conventional silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells. Researchers aim to achieve higher efficiency in solar energy conversion without incurring additional costs, making this technology applicable for both terrestrial and space-based solar applications.

The second facet of this collaboration seeks to establish a scalable approach for converting rice straw, a common agricultural byproduct, into doped hard carbon materials. These materials could serve as anodes or additives in sodium-ion batteries, presenting a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion technology. This initiative promises to mitigate the environmental issues associated with stubble burning while simultaneously bolstering India's clean energy ecosystem by leveraging local, eco-friendly resources.

This new partnership between IIT Bombay and Indus Towers is a significant step toward reinforcing the commitment to sustainable energy advancements in India, potentially leading to innovative solutions that can have far-reaching impacts on the energy landscape.