10/11/2010-P&C Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Government of India The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

invites applications, in prescribed proforma (Annexure-1) under its newly launched National Solar Sciences Fellows Programme from Scientists of India or of Indian origin desirous of participating in cutting-edge research on critical issues related to solar energy in collaboration with leading Institutes and Scientists. The details of the Fellowship is as follows:a) The fellow will be designated as National Solar Science Fellow. b) The total number of National Solar Science Fellows at any time will be 10 (ten) in number. c) The tenure of the fellowship of a Fellow will be three years extendable to another two years on year to year basis based on performance. d) Each Fellow will receive a total annual grant of Rs. 32 lakh as follows: i) Fellowship Rs. 12,00,000/- (@Rs. 100,000/- per month excluding tax (if applicable)) ii) Contingencies upto Rs. 5,00,000/iii) Research Grant upto Rs. 15,00,000/e) The applicant should be between 35-45 years age group. However the upper age limit can be relaxed for deserving candidates based on the merit of their proposal. f) An applicant in the age group of 35 to 45, may have a mentor in the host institution with expertise in related subject. The proposal should clearly indicate the name and credentials of the proposed mentor if available. g) The fellow may be of any field of engineering and science and the proposal may include subject of any related fields such as thermal heat transfer, chemical and mechanical aspects of associated science and engineering leading to harnessing of solar energy for various applications. h) Those who are already employed can also apply subject to the condition that their organization is willing to spare them for three years. During this period they can continue to get their salary etc. from parent organization if that organization allows, provided he/she is allowed to work full time on fellowship programme. i) The host institutions will also be empanelled based on their capacity to provide necessary infrastructure support to the Fellow. An MoU with the Fellow and Institute will be signed by the Ministry.

The indicative list of the thrust areas of research to be supported under this Fellowship Programme is given in Annexure-2. The suggestive list of host institutions is given in Annexure-3. This Fellowship Programme is targeting people with unique ideas and capacity to think out of the box. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit proposals on any new challenges/issues outside of the thrust areas but relating to the current energy scenario of the country/world, along with innovative, cost-effective, practicable and implementable solutions to challenges being faced by the country in energy sector. While it is not mandatory, it would be desirable if the applicant has already carried out at least 10 20% of the research work proposed to be undertaken under the Fellowship Programme. The application has to be submitted in the prescribed proforma (Annexure I) and has to be accompanied by a short paper (not exceeding 3 pages) on the applicants proposed research proposal clearly identifying the new knowledge that it will help to generate along with a summary of work already carried out by the applicant in the area. Short-listed candidates shall be invited for an interactive discussion with the Fellowship Management Committee constituted by the Ministry under the National Solar Science Fellowship Programme. The application complete in all respects should be sent by Registered/Speed Post only (not by courier service or in person) in a confidential sealed envelope by 31st October, 2011 to the following address:
The Joint Secretary(SS), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Block 14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi 110 003.

Annexure-1
Proforma For submission of application under the National Solar Science Fellows Programme 1. Name of applicant: 2. Date of Birth: 3. Address for correspondence including phone no., fax no., e-mail. 4. If employed in GOI/State Govt./Public Institution, name and address of the current employer and salary drawn: 5. Academic Background: (details from undergraduate level onwards may be provided including name of Institutions/Universities, special achievements/distinctions obtained etc.) 6. Area(s) of specialization: 7. Details of publications (only list/reference to be provided) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Research papers in International Journals Research papers in National Journals Papers presented in seminars (National and International separately) Popular Articles Books Films/Audio Visuals produced

8. Details of original, innovative and pioneering research work carried out in the area mentioned at S. No. 6 (up to one page): 9. Details of research scholars successfully guided and those currently pursuing M.Phil/Ph.D under your supervision: 10. Details of any awards/recognition received in the subject area at the national/international level: 11. Please describe in your own words why you should be selected as a National Solar Science Fellow and how the proposed research project will benefit the GOI in finding solutions to the practical problems of solar energy science, engineering and technology and their application at the field level: (up to one page) 12. Are you willing to give a commitment to work at the selected host institution(s) for the full tenure of the fellowship granted and submit a bond in this regard to the host institution? 13. References: Please provide up to three (3) references with complete contact details (full address, phone no. fax no. and e-mail)

14. Please indicate the proposed institution, group, professor with whom the project is to be undertaken. 15. Facilities/Infrastructure available at the host institution to undertake such work (an undertaking from the host institution to enter into a tripartite MOU between Ministry, host institution and the Fellow be attached) 16. Detailed Research Proposal mentioning the problem to be addressed, methodology, expected outcome. The proposal should clearly indicate the objectives and methodology to achieve any of the following:(i) (ii) (iii) Understanding the scientific principles behind harnessing solar energy and development of a new process/ technology. Identifying/developing new and innovative methods of harnessing solar energy or improving an existing technology. Developing new and innovative Solar Energy applications and products.

Annexure-2 Thrust Areas of Research under Ministrys R & D Policy a) Solar Photovoltaic Energy The key areas of R&D and technology development should be focused on development of (i) poly silicon and other materials, (ii) efficient silicon solar cells, (iii) thin films materials and solar cell modules, (iv) concentrating PV systems, and (v) PV system design, with the objective of significantly reducing the ratio of capital cost to conversion efficiency. The following are the thrust areas for R&D support in solar photovoltaic technology: Poly Silicon Material i. To undertake R&D to make poly silicon material using alternative methods (non-TCS) to achieve direct electricity consumption of 125 kWh/kg or lower. The process will be scaled up to pilot plant production, based on process reactor, which can demonstrate a capacity up to 100 TPA. The quality of poly silicon material produced at the pilot plant will be suitable to make high efficiency (>15%) silicon solar cells and the combined trace impurities of heavy metals, carbon and boron will be limited to ppb. To design, develop and demonstrate at pilot plant scale (about 100 TPA) poly silicon deposition reactors, based on traditional poly silicon deposition methods, to reduce the energy consumption to less than 125 kWh/kg of poly silicon material produced, with the combined trace impurities of heavy metals, carbon and boron limited to ppb level. Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells & Modules To reduce the direct consumption of silicon wafer (3 gm per Wp) in commercial production by reducing the wafer thickness and increasing the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cell to average 18% and more. To develop and produce multi crystalline silicon ingots / wafers and produce solar cells with conversion efficiency of 17% and more in commercial production. To undertake R&D on alternative device structures to make crystalline silicon solar cells to demonstrate very high efficiency (22-24% on small size laboratory devices) Improving the effective PV module life to 25 years and more, with total degradation within 10% of the initial rating under STC. Design and development of low cost, low weight, non-glass type PV modules with effective module life of 10 years of more, with total degradation within 10% of the initial rating under STC. Study and evaluate new materials for use in PV modules. To develop low resistance metal contact deposition materials and processes.

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Thin Film Solar Cell Modules To undertake R&D on different processes and device structures to make laboratory scale small area (2cm x 2cm) devices of efficiency >10% using CdTe, CIGS and silicon thin films. Development of poly crystalline thin film integrated modules (1 sq ft or more) at pilot plant scale using different materials (CdTe, CIGS, silicon films) to achieve efficiency of >8% and life of integrated module > 15 years) New Materials based Solar Cells Thin film modules based on organic materials, dye sensitized and doped with nano materials to produce solar cells needs to be studied to study and characterize new materials to determine their suitability for fabrication of solar cells, design and development of new thin film device structures based on dye sensitized (liquid and solid state) organic, carbon nano tubes, quantum dots etc. materials for achieving a laboratory scale efficiency of 5 10%. Concentrating Solar Cells & Modules

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Design and development of concentrator solar cells (concentration ratio of 200 sun and more) and modules (efficiency ~ 25 30%) and testing of concentrating PV system in Indian conditions. xv. Development of two axis tracking system suitable for high concentration PV system. xvi. Design and development of heat-sink for mounting of solar cells under high concentration xvii. Design and development of optical systems to achieve concentration ratio of 200 suns and more, with minimum optical aberration. xviii. Development of silicon and GaAs based solar cells suitable for use under high concentration (200 sun or more) Storage System xix. xx. Development of long life (5000 cycles or more) storage batteries suitable for use in PV systems /applications. Development and testing of new storage systems up to MW scale to store electricity for about 8-10 hours, with storage losses limited to about 10%.

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Balance of System & PV Systems Design and development of high efficiency (>50%) motor pump set of output power of 2 hp, 3 hp and 5 hp to lift water from depth of about 30 60 metres.

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Design and development of small capacity inverter cum charge controller, with efficiency of 90% or more, suitable for use in solar lighting systems including LED based lighting systems. xxiii. Design and development of LED based PV systems for indoor and outdoor lighting applications xxiv. Design, development and field-testing of inverters and grid synchronizing system components (peak efficiency >96% and part load @ 30% efficiency >88%,) used in residential grid interactive roof top PV systems. xxv. Field-testing and performance evaluation of grid interactive rooftop residential PV systems. 6. Design, development and testing of inverters and grid synchronizing system components (peak efficiency >96% and part load @ 30% efficiency >88%) for large size (> 500 kWp capacity) grid connected PV systems. 7. Field-testing and performance evaluation of grid interactive large size PV power plant. Testing & Characterization Facilities xxvi. Upgrading the testing and characterization facilities for PV materials, devices, components, modules and systems xxvii. Setting up of testing facilities for concentrating PV systems xxviii. Study and evaluate new material, device structures and module designs etc. B) Solar Thermal Energy i) Solar thermal power generation a) Parabolic Trough technology Design and development of parabolic trough collectors for operating temperature range of about 400 C with performance characteristics comparable to internationally available technology. b) Central Receiver Technology b.i) Design, development and installation of 1 - 2 MW capacity solar thermal power plant with molten salt as the heat transfer and storage medium. b.ii) Design and development of heliostats, tracking mechanism, tower structure, receiver and storage medium, etc. c) Dish/ Engine Technology c.i) Design and development of large area solar dish with Stirling and other engines to produce power in kW-range. c.ii) Design and development of dish / engine solar thermal power plants for distributed generation in the capacity range of 100 kW and above. The target for levelized cost of electricity generation is less than Rs.15/kWh. c.iii) Design and development of Sterling engines, having capacity in the kW range (suitable for family, community and distributed power generation).

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General: Quality of mirrors (for use as reflectors), solar receivers (to capture solar radiation), and other components of the plant to enable to have life span of 20 years or more. Solar Heat (upto 250oC) for Industrial Processes Design and development of parabolic trough collectors for industrial process heat applications with optical efficiency of greater than 70% and heat loss coefficient lower than 1.0 W/m2K. Development of advanced solar flat plate collectors with optical efficiency greater than 75% and overall heat loss coefficient lower than 3.0 W/m2K (or lower). Low Temperature Applications i) Solar Distillation/ Water Purification Systems Design and development of a solar distillation unit of 1000 LPD capacity having daily yield greater than 4 litre per sq. m. of solar collector to provide drinking water with brackish or saline water as the feed. ii) Solar cooling Design and development of a solar air conditioning system for residential applications. The target cooling capacity is 5-10 kW with a COP of 0.6 or higher. Design and development of a double effect absorption chiller driven by high efficiency concentrating solar collectors for institutional applications. The capacity of these systems could be 15 kW and higher. The target COP is 1.2 or higher. iii) Solar Detoxification of Wastes Design and development of appropriate catalysts and processes for solar detoxification of industrial wastes for reducing the costs and obtain acceptable quality of regenerated water for re-use and safe disposal of leftover residues. iv) Solar thermal materials/ devices Development of advanced glazings for windows for industrial production in the country. Development of advanced selective coatings suitable for applications in the temperature range of 300 600 deg C. Development of polymer based low cost materials for various solar thermal applications.

Annexure-3 Indicative List of Host Institutions

1. IISc, Bangalore 2. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 3. Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, Jadhavpur, Kolkata 4. Solar Energy Centre, Gwalpahari, Gurgaon 5. National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi 6. I.I.T, Delhi 7. I.I.T, Bombay 8. I.I.T., Madras 9. I.I.T, Kanpur 10. I.I.T, Kharagpur 11. I.I.T, Roorkee 12. I.I.T. Jodhpur 13. National Institute of Technology, Bhopal 14. National Institute of Technology, Jaipur 15. National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur 16. School of Energy, Jawahar Lal Nehru Technology University, Hyderabad 17. Centre of Energy Studies and Research, Devi Ahilya University, Indore 18. TERI University, Delhi 19. School of Energy Studies, Jadhavpur University 20. School of Energy Studies, Anna University, Chennai 21. Department of Energy, Tezpur University 22. Department of physics, Lucknow University 23. University of Petroleum & Engineering, Dehradun 24. Energy Research Centre, Punjab University 25. CR University of Science & Technology 26. Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi 27. H.N. Bahuguna University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand 28. Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu 29. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani The list of institutions may be amended by the Fellowship Management Committee for this purpose from time to time. These institutions shall sign a MOU (Annexure-4) with the MNRE.

Annexure-4 Memorandum of Understanding

between the Host Institution and MNRE in respect of the National Solar Science Fellows Programme.

I A MOU has been reached this __________day of ____________two thousand ________between the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, GOI (hereinafter referred to as MNRE) and _________________(Name of Institution/Organization), (hereinafter referred to as the Host Institution) with respect to hosting _________(the name of the Fellow), selected as the National Solar Sciences Fellow vide Ministrys letter__________ dated_________. It is clarified that all the terms & conditions contained in MNREs publication Guidelines for Support to. shall apply to the National Solar Science Fellows Programme and the Research Project to be implemented by the selected National Solar Science Fellow at the Host Institution. This MOU is over and above the terms and conditions mentioned above and deals mainly with delineating the responsibilities of MNRE, the Host Institution and the selected National Solar Sciences Fellow, the fulfillment of which is essential for achieving the objectives of the Programme. II 1. The objectives of the National Solar Sciences Fellows Programme. To provide a platform to top quality scientists & engineers of India or of Indian origin desirous of working at the forefront of Solar Energy sciences, engineering and technology with a focus on thrust areas identified by the Ministry in its R&D Policy. To develop a community of researchers with diverse backgrounds, united by intellectual curiosity, top quality scholarship and drive to undertake research on important challenges facing the country today in all round development of Solar Energy utilization in the country. To find solutions, through scientific research, to the practical problems of Solar Energy and their application in field, leading to visible improvement in the energy security of the country. To utilize and expand the resources available in the universities/R&D institutions/and other educational institutions of the country, to address complex energy security aspects of the country.

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To undertake research in the thrust area(s) identified by the Management Committee in the host institution, while also strengthening connections across the other participating universities/R&D institutions/educational institutions. To motivate, enthuse and nurture scientists with potential and proven talents to work in emerging fields of Solar Energy. To utilize the knowledge/data emerging from such research work to devise strategies/solutions for large scale utilization of Solar resource in the country.

III Responsibilities of MNRE

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To constitute a Management Committee headed by the Secretary, MNRE with eminent scientists as members. To select appropriate National Solar Sciences Fellows after following the prescribed procedure. To facilitate in the identification and designation of a suitable Host Institution in respect of each selected Fellow, in consultation with the Host Institution and the Fellow. It shall be ensured that the Host Institution/Fellow is mutually acceptable to each other, before commencing the research project. To issue the sanction order and release the fellowship grant earmarked to the Fellow, to the Host Institution for further transmission to the Fellow. It shall be ensured that the money is released to the Host Institution well in time, so that the Host Institution and the Fellow are not inconvenienced due to lack of funds. To help, assist and support the Host Institution and the Fellow in every way to ensure that the objectives of the National Solar Sciences Fellows Programme are achieved.

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IV Responsibilities of the Host Institution

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To accept and allow the selected National Solar Sciences Fellow to work for the full tenure of the Fellowship at their Institution. To provide adequate and suitable office space and support staff, if any, in the premises of the Institute, required laboratory facilities, access to the library, other publications and computerized data base of the Institution relevant to the project etc. to the Fellow to carry out the research work. While it is not mandatory, the host institution may, if so desired by the Fellow, assist him/her in the work and evaluate/assess the progress of the project as per mutually agreed terms. To help, assist and support the Fellow in every way to ensure that the objectives of the National Solar Sciences Fellows Programme are achieved.

V Responsibilities of the National Solar Sciences Fellow

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To give a commitment to work at the selected Host Institution for the full tenure of the Fellowship and submit a Bond in this regard to the Host Institution. To abide by the Rules/Regulations of the Host Institution, as well as the terms & conditions of the National Solar Sciences Fellows programme, this agreement and other relevant documents referred to in this MOU. To conduct/carry out the Research Project duly approved by the Management Committee, sincerely, with dedication and to the best of his/her abilities. To share with MNRE all the outcomes of the Research Project including, but not limited to, information/data/findings/new technology/publications etc. To be willing to modify or restructure the project during the course of its implementation if so advised by the MNRE based on the mandatory periodic assessment /evaluation of the work by the Management Committee. To ensure that the research project is completed within the prescribed tenure and that the expenditure in connection with the project is kept within the approved outlay.

VI Other Terms & Conditions 1. The grant amount shall be released in installments. While the first installment shall be released on selection of the fellow, subsequent releases will depend on the submission of the requisite Utilization Certificate, Expenditure Statement & Progress Reports etc. by the Fellow/Host Institution, and their acceptance by MNRE. In the event of the Management Committee recommending closure of the Project, this MOU shall be terminated, after giving a clear notice of one month-both to the Host Institution and to the Fellow. In case of termination of the MOU, all unutilized funds up to the date of termination of the agreement will have to be returned to MNRE by the Host Institution. Due caution would be exercised both by the Host Institution and the National Solar Sciences Fellow in dissemination/publication of any information/data/findings of a sensitive/classified nature, emanating out of the project. Responsibility of ensuring discretion and secrecy of data/findings in such cases, will rest entirely with the Fellow and the Host Institution. All disputes, disagreements etc. if any, arising out of the National Solar Sciences Fellows Programme, shall be resolved by the Management Committee. MNRE reserves the right to add, delete or modify from time to time, any part of this MOU. However, the decision to add, delete or modify the provisions of the MOU shall invariably be approved by the Competent Authority of MNRE. On all aspects, where this MOU is silent, or for special cases of deviation from the provisions of this MOU or the National Solar Sciences Fellows Programme, the decision of MNRE based on the recommendation of the Management Committee shall be final.

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The above MOU has been entered into and signed on behalf of MNRE and the Host Institution on the day, month and year first above written.

Head of the Host Institution

Joint Secretary to the Government o India, MNRE

(Seal of office)

(Seal of office)

Witness 1.__________________ 2._________________

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