Indian renewables expand with solar ecosystem improvements

The following article briefly overviews the industries’ developments, difficulties, and possibilities. In addition, based on our current capacities, the industry is optimistic about generating more indigenous solar cells, technologies, and linked components.
The solar ecosystem in India is witnessing significant growth, with the government’s initiatives to create global players through the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. As one of the 11 leaders in PLI Tranche-2 for the solar vertical, Grew Energy is committed to manufacturing 4 GW of PV modules, 3 GW of PV cells, 300 tons per day of tempered glass, and the complete ecosystem, including other components such as the EVA back sheet, Aluminium frame, sealant junction box, etc. However, there are concerns about India’s current manufacturing capacity, which needs to be improved to meet the demand for solar modules, cells, and other components.
Manufacturing high-efficiency solar modules for utility-scale
The installed solar capacity in India is around 63.3–65 GW, with an allocated quantity of approximately 70–75 GW. However, the usable capacity for high-efficiency module manufacturing required for utility-scale projects in India and worldwide is estimated to be around 12-15 GW. In contrast, the remaining capacity is reserved for old technology modules unsuitable for utility-scale projects or global players. Therefore, despite the nameplate capacity of 39 GW, the usable capacity is currently limited, highlighting the need to increase manufacturing capacity and support the solar industry’s growth.
Investments in solar cell technology
Regarding solar cell technology, the current manufacturing capacity in India is 4.8 GW, which needs to be increased to at least 12 to 15 GW to support Indian players. The projected capacity is set to reach 33.6 GW, but the requirement is more than 30 GW. This means that a huge investment is required to increase the capacity in this segment, particularly for high-efficiency cells like M10 and G-12 wafers.
Additionally, there is a need for more players to enter the ingot, wafer, and cell capacity markets to support Indian module manufacturers.
Significance of component manufacturing for solar PV
Another critical part of the solar ecosystem is solar glass manufacturing, with the current capacity in India at 1000 tons per day, which can support up to 6 GW of module production. However, the projected capacity is set to increase to 2500 tons per day by 2025 to fulfil the requirements of the Indian industry to become self-sufficient. Apart from solar glass, there is also a need for more manufacturers of other components such as EVA, back sheet, Aluminium frames, sealant, and junction boxes. The current dependence on external sources for these components is a concern. It highlights the need for significant investments in all aspects of the solar ecosystem to develop a complete, 100 percent Indian product that can meet global requirements.
Challenges and opportunities exist in the solar industry.
The challenges faced by the solar ecosystem in India are not limited to manufacturing capacity but also extend to financing, regulations, and infrastructure. The government’s efforts to address these issues through initiatives such as the National Solar Mission, the Solar Parks Scheme, and the Green Energy Corridor are commendable. Additionally, introducing the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has played a vital role in the growth of the solar ecosystem by facilitating the implementation of various projects and providing a platform for developers and investors to connect.
The road ahead
The solar ecosystem in India is witnessing significant growth with the government’s initiatives to create global players through the PLI scheme. However, there are concerns about the current manufacturing capacity, which needs to be increased to meet the demand for solar modules, cells, and other components. Additionally, there is a need for more players to enter the solar ecosystem to support Indian module manufacturers, particularly in the ingot, wafer, and cell capacity markets. Solar PV manufacturers and cell manufacturing companies in the solar industry are committed to supporting the entire solar ecosystem, from ingots to wafer cell modules and other raw materials, to fulfil the Indian government’s plan to become self-sufficient in energy.
For more details visit: https://www.grew.one/