IIT Roorkee, GIC Re Collaborate to Develop Solar Window Technology

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) have signed a partnership agreement to develop solar window technology that will enhance the solar power generation in India and lead to greater sustainable development.

The two entities – IIT Roorkee Development Foundation (IITRDF) and GIC Re – have entered into the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to step up the solar window technology to secure the future of the earth. IITRDF is a not-for-profit registered organisation.

This is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re). Its initiative with IIT Roorkee is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 7, 9, and 11 that have been set by the United Nations and are directed to promote and strengthen education, green energy and environmental sustainability.

As per the official statement, the new solar window technology will be designed and developed by Prof. Soumitra Satapathi from Department of Physics (IIT Roorkee) who is also the lead scientist, and his team. Under the program, semi-transparent perovskite solar cells will be developed for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The perovskite solar cells offer high efficiencies and help to cost-effective energy solutions.

The new window solar technology will harness electricity during the daytime and reduce reliance on traditional electricity sources. This will eliminate carbon footprint and enable the households and business owners to save on power bills while stepping up sustainable living.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Madhulika Bhaskar (General Manager & Director, GIC Re), Sneha Nair (Assistant General Manager, GIC Re), Board of Directors IITRDF – Prof. KK Pant (Director IIT Roorkee), Prof. Mukat Lal Sharma (Dean Finance And Planning IIT Roorkee), Prof. Partha Roy(Dean of Resources & Alumni Affairs IIT Roorkee) and Prof. Akshay Dvivedi (Dean SRIC IIT Roorkee). Santosh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer if IIT Roorkee Development Foundation was also present.