Ascent Solar Technologies Inc (ASTI) has entered into an agreement with The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), India, to test the company’s copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) modules—which can convert sunlight into electricity, to see if they can be used for TERI’s projects, including ‘Lighting a billion lives’ (LaBL). LaBL seeks to replace kerosene and paraffin lanterns with solar devices. Upon evaluation of technical and economical feasibility, TERI and Ascent Solar will decide on the terms and conditions, as well as the implementation model.
It is believed that India’s drive to ramp up solar capacity in the last few years may cause a stampede of firms from Asia, Europe and North America, chasing a share of the US$ 3.5 billion business up for grabs by 2013, and trampling over smaller domestic players.