Perspectives on the semiconductor ecosystem—the solar route
critical applications
The trilateral synergy between industry- telecom and networking, semiconductor,
There are many applications of solar power
academia-government is critical. This will automotive, biotechnology, manufacturing,
that will help alleviate the power problem
comprehend the key business technology factory automation, supply chain,
in India.
imperatives (industry), the platform project management, etc. Manufacturing
needed to realize these imperatives via industries are becoming increasingly
Off-grid applications
R&D (academia), the proper incentives dependent on software to optimize their
Off-grid applications—which do not require
and facilitation of implementation process, yield, inventory and warehousing,
the infrastructure related to transmission—
(government). product optimization, etc. India will be
include water heaters for residential and
There needs to be a directed research the ideal platform to also be a world leader
small to medium industrial applications.
in the various central research labs (eg. in the semiconductor manufacturing
Solar lanterns, with power-saving LED
CSIR). These labs are a rich pool of scenario.
lamps, can replace kerosene-based lamps
scientists, and some of them could be
and firewood. Solar back-up power would
channeled into the NSM roadmap. Part conclusion
replace diesel generators. With cellular
of the funding to the government research It is important to think of setting up semi-
communication become all pervasive in
labs could be focused in identified areas, conductor manufacturing and its associ-
even the remote areas of the country,
with clear deliverables related to the NSM ated ecosystem as the next big step—and
solar power would provide low cost and
milestones. the solar industry as a good stepping-stone
pollution-free power for the transmission
The industry-academia research needs towards that.
towers. Water pumps in rural areas could
to be strategic with commitment from both The benefit to the society in terms of
be powered by solar, as could PCs and
sides. A successful example is the nano- clean renewable energy is also too strong
other small machines. Village-level power
research research equipment of $7.5million to ignore.
could be provided, with each village setting
donated by Applied Materials along with A synergistic approach to this area
up a local distribution system of about 100
dedicated engineers/scientists, with IIT-B by the industry and government will
KW. Based on a recent study, solar power
giving the infrastructure and faculty. not enable setting up the necessary
becomes more cost-effective than grid-
This has resulted in frontline research infrastructure, but also address the critical
connected power when the distance of the
of relevance in solar and semiconductor energy issue in an environment friendly
remote location is greater than 6 km from
manufacturing. manner.
the grid.
The US has a very successful model
where industries are members of the SRC
On-grid applications
(Semiconductor Research Corporation),
On-grid applications that will help con-
which drives fundamental research.
tribute to power generation include solar
Bodies like the ISA (India Semiconductor
farms, synergy with other renewable energy
Association) help liaise between the SRC
sources, smart grids, and storage efficiency.
and the NSM in driving focused research,
and facilitate international research
Technology leadership
collaboration.
Since the solar thrust has gained momen-
The universities/institutes need to
tum recently, it is imperative that India
plan for key departments and courses/
enters into it with a strategic perspective.
degrees which will help produced trained
Unlike other areas (eg. semiconductor
manpower. As an example, the Indian
manufacturing) where the rest of the world
Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B)
had a head-start for many decades, the
has set up a new Department of Energy
Dr. Madhusudan V Atre is president
solar industry offers a more level-playing
Science and Engineering with courses
of Applied Materials India, Pvt., Ltd.
field, with opportunities to join the race at
focused on renewable energy. Adjunct/
He previously served as vice president
a very early stage.
visiting faculty from the industry will help
and managing director of LSI India
The right planning, along with
in key technology lectures/courses, and
operations, part of LSI Corporation. Dr.
investments and judicious implementation,
students have an opportunity to be interns
Atre has played a significant role as a
will help India get, and retain, technology
at relevant companies to get trained in
founding Executive Council member of
leadership in the global community.
the sector. This model could be mirrored
the Indian Semiconductor Association
This will also synergize with other
in other leading academic centers, with
(ISA) and has been nominated as the
areas—industry-govt-academia, HRD, tech,
suitably defined areas of specialization.
association’s leader of the Technology
international.
A core committee to be set up with
Special Interest Group, where he is
A number of aspects need to be
members from government, academia,
working to identify and drive key
considered, however.
industry which will help define strategy,
technology initiatives. Dr. Atre earned
It is critical to foster, and drive,
technology roadmap, milestones, tracking
his M.Sc. in physics from the Indian
disruptive technology research—
of deliverables, funding, collaborative
Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay
especially in the areas of new materials,
programs, etc.
and his Ph.D. in physics from the Indian
manufacturing processes, energy storage,
India has already established itself
Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore.
inverter technology, transmission, etc.
as a software powerhouse, specializing
Applied Materials has approximately
Rather than incremental improvements in
not only in software services, but also
1,500 employees and contractors in
performance, etc—research, development,
in coming up with innovative software
India, with offices in Bangalore, New
and application of disruptive technologies
products and solutions. These span a
Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.
will help gain technology leadership.
gamut of sectors—financial, embedded,
14 – Global Solar Technology – May/June 2009
www.globalsolartechnology.com
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