As part of ongoing efforts to accelerate the development of next-generation photovoltaic technologies in India, Prof. Dinesh Kabra, co-Pl of NCPRE, visited the headquarters of Von Ardenne in Dresden, Germany, for detailed technical discussions on equipment solutions for a future research and development pilot line dedicated to tandem solar cell technology. The visit focused on evaluating advanced deposition and process equipment required for scaling tandem solar cell manufacturing from laboratory-scale research to pilot-line production.

Discussions covered engineering requirements, process integration strategies, and technology pathways that can support India's ambitions in high-efficiency photovoltaic manufacturing. A key highlight of the visit was an interaction with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), one of the world's leading research centres in PV technologies.

Prof. Kabra had the opportunity to visit the tandem solar cell pilot line installed using Von Ardenne equipment and gain first-hand insights into industrially relevant process flows, equipment architecture, and scale-up considerations. The discussions provided valuable perspectives on translating cutting-edge tandem solar cell research into manufacturable technologies.

The visit also enabled direct engagement with experts working on pilot-scale production, process optimization, and industrial deployment of tandem photovoltaic devices. The visit concluded with agreement on key technical directions and next steps for future collaboration. The interactions reinforced the importance of international partnerships in building India's PV capability.