The solar manufacturing industry in India is undergoing a remarkable transformation. With substantial investments and cutting-edge technological advancements, the country is rapidly positioning itself as a global leader in solar equipment production.
Tata Power’s Solar Facility
Tata Power Renewable Energy’s subsidiary, TP Solar, has established a state-of-the-art solar manufacturing plant in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.
Spanning 317 acres, the facility adheres to Industry 4.0 standards and produces 20,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) units daily, powered by autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
The plant boasts a production capacity of four gigawatts (GW) of solar cells.
Built with an investment of ₹4,300 crore, it utilizes advanced technologies like TopCon, mono PERC, and bifacial modules, which increase efficiency by generating electricity from both sides of the panel.
Surge in Solar Manufacturing Capacity
The facility is part of India’s larger effort to ramp up solar equipment manufacturing.
In 2024, India’s cumulative capacity for solar modules reached 77.2 GW, while the solar cell capacity stood at 7.6 GW.
The growth represents a remarkable leap from just three GW of solar cells and eight GW of modules in 2017.
Notably, Gujarat and Telangana have emerged as key hubs, contributing significantly to the country’s expanding solar capacity.
The solar manufacturing sector has been spurred by robust government policies, such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which encourages the creation of integrated solar value chains.
Record Solar Additions in 2024
India achieved a historic milestone in 2024 by adding 11.3 GW of solar modules and 2 GW of solar cell capacity. This growth is primarily driven by strong investments from major companies, including Reliance Industries, Adani Solar, Waaree Energies, and ReNew, all of which are scaling up their manufacturing operations to meet the surging demand for solar energy.
Global Competition
While China currently dominates the global solar market, producing over 70% of the world’s solar modules, India’s solar exports are growing rapidly.
In 2023, the U.S. accounted for more than 97% of India’s solar exports, highlighting the strong demand for Indian-made solar products abroad.
Solar Manufacturing Future
Looking ahead, India’s solar manufacturing sector is poised for continued growth.
By 2026, India is projected to have 172 GW of solar module capacity and over 80 GW of solar cell capacity.
As reported by knnindia.co.in, with these ambitious plans, India is set to become a key player in the global race for renewable energy leadership.
