India's rapid economic growth and increasing energy demands have led to a surge
in renewable energy investments in recent years. Among the various renewable
energy sources, solar energy stands out due to its abundance and sustainability.
As a result, the Indian solar industry has witnessed remarkable growth, both in
terms of capacity installations and manufacturing facilities. This article
explores the landscape of solar PV cell and module manufacturing in India,
highlighting key players and initiatives that have fostered the growth of this
industry. Solar PV Module& Cell Manufacturing in India
A solar PV cell is a key component of a solar module, responsible for
converting sunlight into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. In India,
solar PV cell manufacturing has experienced significant growth over the past
decade. Several players have stepped forward to establish manufacturing
facilities.
Waaree Energies Limited
Waaree are the India's largest solar panel manufacturer with an operational
capacity of 5 GW for solar PV modules like Mono PERC, Bifacial, BIPV, Flexible
and Polycrystalline modules.
Waaree Energies Ltd. is the flagship company of Waaree Group, founded in 1989
with headquarters in Mumbai, India. Waaree Energy is today one of the largest
vertically integrated new energy companies. It has India's largest Solar panel
manufacturing capacity of 12GW at its plants in Chikhli, Surat and Umbergaon in
Gujarat and is a top player in EPC Services, Project Development, Solar Rooftop
Solutions, Solar Inverter, and Solar Water Pumps. It is also an Independent
Power Producer. Waaree has a presence in over 388 locations nationally and 20
countries internationally. The company has supplied 6+GW of solar modules and
commissioned 1+ GW of solar EPC projects.
Adani Green Energy Limited
(AGEL) is an Indian renewable energy company headquartered in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat. It is owned by Indian conglomerate Adani Group. Adani Solar is the
Solar PV manufacturing arm of Adani Group, a diversified organization in India,
comprising 9 publicly traded companies. It has created world class transport and
utility infrastructure portfolios with a pan-India presence.
Adani Solar is India's 1st and largestvertically integrated solar company
with 4 GW manufacturing capacity, that offers products along with services
across the spectrum of photovoltaics manufacturing. The cutting-edge technology,
with machines and equipment sourced from the best-in-class suppliers, aim to
help in cost leadership, scale of operations and reliability standards as per
global benchmarks.
Currently, Adani Solar is building the World's 1st ever Fully Integrated and
Comprehensive Ecosystem of 10 GW Solar PV manufacturingin Mundra, India.Adani
Solar, has a fully integrated ecosystem encompassing the production of
Metallurgical Grade Silicon, Polysilicon, Ingots, Wafers, Cells, and Modules and
including ancillaries like Glass, EVA, Back-sheet, Aluminum Frames, Junction
Boxes and others in Mundra. Entrenched in Nation Building, Adani has
aggressively led the technology-intensive manufacturing sector, through its
state-of-the-art entities located at one of the largest, Electronics
Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) in Mundra, India, spanning an area of about 800
acres.
Tata Power Solar Limited:
Company is 4GW Cell and Module Manufacturing plant in Gangaikondan. They
offer bankable tier-1 solar modules to multiple customer segments, with a range
of configurations power outputs and module sizes. Tata Power Solar uses its core
strengths in solar cell research and development in order to produce one of the
highest efficiency solar cells and modules.
Recognized as one of the Tier-1 bankable module manufacturer internationally,
with over 2.5GW modules shipped globally, we are known for our technology
innovation and cutting-edge manufacturing. The company has module manufacturing
lines have an in-house production capacity of 635MW for modules and 500MW of
cell manufacturing lines with a capacity of 528MW, can process both mono of
166mm and multi-crystalline wafers of 158.75mm sizes.
Vikram Solar Limited:
Established in 2006, the company has a production capacity of around 3.5 GW.
Vikram Solar specializes in the manufacturing of both monocrystalline and
polycrystalline solar modules, catering to both domestic and international
markets, the production capacity will be extended to 3 GW of Modules. This
include upto to 2 GW of PV cell manufacturing.
Vikram are one of India's largest module manufacturers, in terms of
operational capacity, with 3.5 GW of installed manufacturing capacity for solar
PV modules, producing mono PERC, bifacial & mono facial and smart and
polycrystalline PV modules across our factories located at Falta SEZ, Kolkata,
West Bengal and at Oragadam in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Both these factories are
strategically located with access to ports, rail and roads helping facilitate
both our domestic as well as international operations. Operating in the business
of solar PV module technologies for the last 12 years, during which time we have
developed strong engineering capabilities in producing high efficiency PV
modules.
Azure Power Global Limited
Azure is a leading independent sustainable energy solutions provider, and
renewable power producer in India on a mission to create value for all
stakeholders through high-performance Renewable Energy assets. We developed
India's utility scale solar project in 2009 and since then, Azure Power has
grown rapidly to become a leader in developing and operating large utility-scale
renewable energy projects in the country. We also partner with commercial and
industrial customers in their decarbonization journey by providing comprehensive
solutions for their clean energy needs.
Premier Energies
Incorporated in 1995, is currently the second largest integrated solar cell
and module manufacturers in India. The Premier group has state of the art
manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad, having an operational capacity of 750 MW
solar cells and 1,250 MW solar modules. Premier has recently raised USD 25.8
Million from GEF Capital Partners, one of the leading climate focused growth PE
fund.
Thegroup is currently focused on the expansion of its manufacturing
facilities and will have an operating capacity of 1,750 MW cells and 2,250 MW
modules by December 2022.
Over the past two and a half decades since, Premier Energies has made the
journey from introducing the first solar panel assembly line with a 3 MW/year
capacity, to establishing a fully-integrated 3.4 GW solar cell and module line.
As part of the company's ongoing growth, They are further expanding our horizons
by undertaking construction of an additional 1.6 GW solar cell and PV module
manufacturing line.
Swelect Energy Systems Limited
Headquartered in Chennai, a leading player in the Indian solar energy sector,
has established itself as a prominent manufacturer of solar PV cells and
modules. With its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Coimbatore, Tamil
Nadu, Swelect Energy has been contributing to India's solar revolution and
expanding its presence globally. Swelect Energy's manufacturing facility in
Coimbatore boasts a production capacity of 500 MW. The facility is equipped with
advanced technology and automated processes to ensure high-quality solar PV
cells and modules. The Coimbatore plant is known for its efficiency and
adherence to international standards, making Swelect Energy one of the top
players in the domestic solar manufacturing industry.
In addition to its manufacturing facility in Coimbatore, Swelect Energy has
expanded its presence beyond India through strategic acquisitions in Europe. The
company has made notable acquisitions to strengthen its position in the global
solar market and tap into the vast potential of renewable energy.
Furthermore, Swelect Energy has made successful forays into the European
market through acquisitions. The company acquired a controlling stake in
CenterNEX, a German solar PV module manufacturer. This move helped Swelect
Energy establish a strong foothold in Europe and gain access to the advanced
technology and expertise prevalent in the region. Likewise, Swelect Energy
acquired Solar Euromed, a Spanish solar PV module manufacturer, further
bolstering its presence in Europe. These acquisitions have allowed Swelect
Energy to access new markets, tap into the growing renewable energy demand in
Europe, and expand its global reach.
Reliance New Energy Solar Limited:
(RNESL), a new entrant in field isa subsidiary of India-based holding company
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has acquired a complete stake in solar cell
and panel manufacturer REC Solar Holdings (REC Group).
The company acquired REC Group from China National Bluestar for $771m.The
acquisition is in line with RIL's 'new energy vision' to become a global scale
photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing competitor.Based in Norway, REC Group has
operational headquarters in Singapore and regional hubs in North America,
Europe, Australia and Asia-Pacific.
The company operates two manufacturing facilities in Norway that produce
solar-grade polysilicon, while its Singapore facility manufactures PV cells and
modules.REC incorporates heterojunction (HJT) technology in its Alpha and Alpha
Pure range of solar modules to enhance the performance of the product.
RIL plans to use this technology in its fully integrated, metallic silicon PV
panel manufacturing gigafactory at the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga
Complex, located in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Once the deal is completed, the company will take on REC's global workforce
of more than 1,300 employees,RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani said: "It is in line
with our strategy of investing in new and advanced technologies and operating
capabilities aimed at achieving Reliance's goal of enabling 100GW of clean and
green energy before the end of this decade. Together with their other recent
investments, Reliance is now ready to set up a global scale integrated
Photovoltaic Giga factory and make India a manufacturing hub for lowest cost and
highest efficiency solar panels."
Other Notable Manufacturers Include:
- Goldi Solar Pvt. Ltd.
- RenewSys India Pvt. Ltd.
- Emmvee Solar Ltd.
- Navitas Green Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Government Initiatives:
The Government of India has played a crucial role in promoting domestic solar
PV cell and module manufacturing through various initiatives and policies. One
such initiative is the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS),
introduced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. M-SIPS
provides financial incentives to enable the manufacturing of electronic
components, including solar PV cells and modules, within the country.
Challenges & Opportunities
While the Indian solar PV cell and module manufacturing sector have made
significant progress, it still faces several industries have witnessed
remarkable growth in recent years, driven by government initiatives, favourable
policies, and increasing demand for renewable energy.
Government initiatives like M-SIPS, safeguard duty, and the National Solar
Mission have played a crucial role in promoting domestic manufacturing and
supporting the growth of this sector. However, challenges such as competition
from global manufacturers and the need for skilled labor persist.
Despite these challenges, the sector offers immense opportunities for growth,
especially with the increasing focus on renewable energy and the government's
target of achieving a substantial solar power capacity by 2024.
With continued support from the government, collaboration with international
partners, and a focus on innovation and sustainability, India's solar PV cell
and module manufacturing industry has the potential to not only meet the growing
domestic demand but also become a global leader in renewable energy technology.
SALIL CHATTERJEE
HEAD, SD SOLAR RESEARCH |