New Delhi, March 11 (IANS): Solar solutions provider Vikram Solar has signed an agreement with the French national Atomic Energy and Alternative Energy Commission (CEA) to collaborate on innovative technology research and development in solar energy, the Indian company announced.

The agreement was signed on Saturday during the French President Emmanuel Macron's ongoing India visit, a Vikram Solar statement said here.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) provides for collaboration in "enhanced research and development in high efficiency crystalline silicon cells, modules, systems and a host of high efficiency generation and storage technologies for French and Indian markets".

"The CEA will share their know-how and technologies in solar energy, storage, smart grid and thermal efficiency, while Vikram Solar will apply these technologies in large volume manufacturing with the objective of improving solar photovoltaic cells and modules and simultaneously developing battery solutions by increasing their energy storage capacity.

"Other advanced research and development areas of collaboration will include crystallization and wafering, mono and bi-facial modules, agri-photovoltaics and solar mobility as well as exploring new competitive materials in order to reduce costs," the MoU said.

Commenting on the development, Vikram Solar Chief Executive Gyanesh Chaudhary said the association with CEA will strengthen the company's focus on newer technology.

CEA Deputy Chairman Christophe Gegout said in a statement: "Our association with Vikram Solar comes at a time when the need for renewables is at an all-time high in India as well as globally."

The CEA carries out research on thermal and photovoltaic solar energy, as well as on the production of electricity using a thermodynamic process known as concentrating solar power technology, the release said.