ReNew Power plans solar component manufacturing facility in Gujarat

The facility will manufacture 2 GW worth of solar cells and modules annually.

ReNew Power recently announced its plan to develop a solar cell and module manufacturing facility in the Dholera Special Industrial Region (DSIR), on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

The greenfield facility will manufacture 2 GW worth of solar cells and modules annually using monocrystalline PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact) and large wafer technology and will implement best practices in line with Industry 4.0 manufacturing standards. 

The project has been allocated 100 acres of land by the Gujarat government, ensuring adequate availability of land for future capacity expansion. The plant is expected to be vertically integrated in terms of processes and infrastructure for the manufacturing of solar cells and modules and is anticipated to commence operations from fiscal year 2023.

The manufacturing capacity set-up will incorporate ReNew Power’s sustainability initiatives and ensure decarbonisation of manufacturing processes and supply chain to create a ‘Green Factory’ of the future.

Domestic manufacturing of modules and cells within India is expected to help renewable energy companies reduce their dependence on imported components and finished modules from China, which currently accounts for nearly 80 percent of the world’s solar module production. Domestic manufacturing of cells and modules will also help ReNew avoid paying high customs duties on imported components, which are expected to come into force beginning in April 2022. In addition, the PLI scheme announced by the Government of India in 2020 will also provide financial incentives to domestic manufacturing units and is expected to help add 10,000 megawatts (10 GW) of integrated solar PV manufacturing capacity in the country.