India’s solar sector has moved rapidly from early experimentation to large-scale deployment, accompanied by deepening work on manufacturing, grid integration, storage, recycling and green hydrogen. The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has repositioned itself in recent years to support this transition: from reliability testing for next-generation modules to developing ecosystems for green hydrogen and circularity of photovoltaic (PV) waste. Against this backdrop, Mohammad Rihan, Director General, NISE, outlines the institute’s current focus areas, recent initiatives and work on emerging technologies. Edited excerpts…
How has the solar power sector evolved over the past decade?
The evolution has been significant – both in role and scale. A decade ago, solar was discussed primarily as a supporting anchor against the finite and exhaustive nature of coal. Today, it has moved into a main role and, on current trajectories, is on course to become the dominant source of power generation. In 2014, the utility-scale solar capacity was around 2 GW. Today, we are approaching almost 130 GW of installed capacity and are looking at trajectories that take us to roughly 300 GW by 2030 and 1,200-1,300 GW by 2047. Longer-term assessments suggest that, to reach net zero by 2070, very large-scale deployment, of the order of 5,000 GW, will be required. Further, the drive for self-reliance has made tangible progress. Solar module manufacturing has crossed 100 GW, and cell manufacturing is around 25 GW and growing. All our initiatives and policies are aligned to support this transition.
What are the key focus areas of NISE’s research and development (R&D) work?
Over the past 18 months, the institute’s work and plans have been reoriented with national requirements and policies. There are several parallel initiatives. One, at the cell and module level, improving performance and efficiency remains a core R&D activity. Two, we work closely with industry partners, developing next-generation technologies like perovskites, and while our laboratory is not focused on the basic materials side, we undertake reliability and performance testing. The closed-loop testing and feedback help producers iterate and refine products. Third, we focus on the reuse and recycling of end-of-life PV modules, which we approach from both a technology and policy perspective. Fourth, forecasting and resource assessment are areas of focus. We recently completed a national potential assessment for ground-mounted plants, and are finalising one for floating solar and will take up agro-PV next. In forecasting, we are undertaking a project where we combine satellite data with sky-image cameras to study weather impacts on solar radiation due to climate change. Building-integrated PV (BIPV) also remains an active research focus area.
How does NISE support indigenous technology development and testing to strengthen India’s self-reliance in solar manufacturing?
NISE plays a central role in ensuring self-reliance in solar manufacturing. We are the technical implementing agency for the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for modules and cells, and also provide technical inputs for the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
Our testing infrastructure is good, and NISE operates one of the few government-run, full-scale PV testing laboratories in the country. Our charges are economical, and we are more than a testing laboratory: we work in a closed-loop mode where testing leads to practical feedback for product improvement. For example, we have been testing anti-soiling coatings in collaboration with the industry and providing iterative feedback, which has improved their performance. We also serve on the Bureau of Indian Standards’ sectional committees and working groups, and participate actively in standards development.
What role is NISE playing in training technicians in different emerging technologies?
Our training portfolio ranges from international programmes conducted through the Ministry of External Affairs’ Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme to installer-level training under the Suryamitra Skill Development programme. Over the past 18 months, we have diversified into new areas. We now also run focused training courses on green hydrogen, including an international training programme in this segment, as well as in emerging technologies like BIPV, floating solar, agro-PV and wind-solar hybrids. For BIPV and agro-PV, we are planning customised, focused courses.
We are also addressing gender inequality in this space. We recently completed an international training course for women, and actively promote women’s participation across our programmes. On the manufacturing side, recognising the specialised skills set required for this role, we have begun a dedicated manufacturing training programme. The first batch has completed its training and has entered the industry.
What role is NISE playing in energy storage and grid integration?
There are several focus areas in energy storage and grid integration where NISE is actively engaged. First, forecasting is a key area. We are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Power and Grid Controller of India Limited, as forecasting is essential for the seamless integration of variable renewable energy sources. Second, inverters play a critical role in grid stability and integration. NISE has an excellent inverter testing set-up, and we are collaborating with think tanks to identify the key properties that inverters must demonstrate to improve grid integration.
What specific work is NISE doing to support decentralised solutions for energy access in remote regions?
Off-grid applications remain an important segment for us. NISE has a strong presence in the off-grid segment and also maintains excellent testing set-ups for off-grid products such as solar lanterns and street lights. It regularly receives samples from states for evaluation. We provide technical assistance to state nodal agencies and help set up satellite testing centres so that testing can be done locally and more quickly. In short, we support both product certification and capacity building for decentralised solutions that improve energy access.
With NISE issuing calls for green hydrogen pilot projects and testing frameworks, how is the institute developing testing and standards in this space?
We have observed a gap between academic institutions and industry, because academia usually works at low technology readiness levels (TRLs) of around Levels 1-3, whereas industry works at higher TRLs of Levels 5-7. NISE is positioning itself to bridge that gap. We have launched a start-up-focused hub covering the entire renewable energy spectrum, and one of the explicit calls from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is to focus on green hydrogen testing frameworks. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, the MNRE is developing testing infrastructure, and NISE is the technical implementing agency for that programme. We have completed the first call for testing facilities and awarded projects. The second call is in its final stages, and the awards will be announced soon.
Are you seeing early demonstration projects or pilots coming out of NISE’s green hydrogen calls? What lessons stand out?
The testing infrastructure programme is in an early phase, and many projects are still under implementation. However, from our wider engagement with start-ups, we have observed that several of them have demonstrated the potential of green hydrogen. These examples come from hard-to-abate sectors. As testing infrastructure develops and costs decline consequently, pilots will progress to demonstration-scale projects, and ultimately, to commercial projects. It is only a matter of time before green hydrogen adoption becomes commercially viable.
How is NISE planning to identify and nurture the most promising start-ups under its incubation calls before they even reach incubation stage?
We have set up a wide-ranging evaluation committee that includes incubation partners such as the Atal Incubation Centre and IIT Delhi. The committee consists not only of technical experts, but also people involved in start-up incubation and mentorship. This diversity in the committee ensures that we can identify and select ideas that are not only technically sound but also have the potential to reach the market. A purely technical evaluation may overlook perspectives that are essential from a start-up or incubation lens.
We are still in the evaluation phase, but once selections are made, the shortlisted start-ups will receive support. Some will receive financial support, but even those that do not will be mentored and will remain closely connected with us. This continuous engagement is critical because financial assistance is only one part of what start-ups need. Moreover, an industry body, the National Solar Energy Federation of India is a partner in this initiative, in order to mentor start-ups and connect them with the industry.
With new technologies like BIPV, perovskites and tandem cells gaining attention globally, how does NISE evaluate their relevance for Indian conditions?
At present, we are not working on tandem cells or material development. However, we are collaborating closely with industry partners developing perovskite modules, and we assess those products for reliability and performance. With respect to BIPV, we will soon deploy pilot projects on the NISE campus. One building floor will have windows made of BIPV material, and we already have another pilot in the form of a cubical BIPV installation. We are testing and assessing the performance of both these projects. BIPVs are suitable for Indian climatic conditions. BIPV is not a competitor to conventional solar modules. A frequent objection is that BIPV has a lower efficiency of 6-8 per cent compared to 21 per cent for conventional PV. But that misses the point since BIPV is intended for locations where conventional systems cannot be installed because of space or other constraints. Hence, it is a choice between not generating any solar power at all versus generating it through BIPV, even if the efficiency is lower. Furthermore, our experience shows that every new technology needs initial support. Once it gains acceptance, it evolves naturally. The same happened with conventional PV systems, which began in very selective applications. With supportive policies and industry involvement, BIPV can follow a similar trajectory.
What are your policy suggestions for these emerging technologies?
A key suggestion would be consolidating grid integration. This includes better forecasting on both the load and generation sides. Demand-side management (DSM) will have an important role to play, and policy support can significantly strengthen it because effective DSM can reduce dependence on storage. Storage itself remains important, but there are differences between mobility storage and grid-level storage, and policies must respond to these distinctions. Additionally, there is a need to consider at what stage we will push storage for smaller consumers, including behind-the-meter storage.
Moreover, for BIPV, engagement with civil infrastructure bodies and the construction ecosystem is essential, particularly civil works departments and architects. This is where awareness and acceptance need to be built. We have already conducted two to three workshops involving architects and public works departments. For effectively promoting BIPV, these stakeholders must be actively engaged.
What are NISE’s top priorities for the next five years, especially in terms of R&D, innovation and industry partnerships?
Our priorities include improving module performance through next-generation technologies and ancillary innovations such as anti-soiling measures, establishing reuse and recycling pathways for PV modules, and strengthening forecasting and grid integration. Furthermore, NISE intends to act as a bridge between academic research and industry by utilising our testing infrastructure, offering technical input to schemes such as the ALMM and PLI, and expanding our start-up incubation activities.
