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India Solar Power Modules

Chinese Modules Continue To Dominate Indian Solar Power Market

written by saurabh

As Indian project developers continue to expand their installed capacity base, import of cheaper solar power modules continues to increase.

According to Mercom Capital, import of solar power modules in India increased sharply. Project developers imported solar modules worth US$763 million between April and August 2016, an increase of 53% from imports worth US$497 million during the same period last year.

Share of modules from China also increased sharply. Chinese modules accounted for 85% of the total modules imported in India, followed by Malaysia at distant 9%; modules from Taiwan, the US and Singapore accounted for 3% to 1% each.

In financial year 2014-15 (April 2014 to March 2015), India imported 161.5 million with 70% of them coming from China. During the preceding financial year, the share of Chinese modules in total imports was 65%.

Import of Chinese modules has increased sharply over the last few years as project developers continue to compete aggressively with each other for solar power projects.

The regulatory push from the government for solar power market has also helped domestic manufacturers increase their production and exports. Exports of Indian solar cells and modules increased from US$27.5 million to US$45.6 million.

Solar cell manufacturing capacity in India has increased from 1,216 MW in June 2014 to 1,468 MW in June 2016. Growth in the solar PV module manufacturing capacity has been much greater than that in the solar cell manufacturing sector. From an installed capacity base of 2,348 MW in June 2014, the module manufacturing capacity has increased by nearly three times to 6,848 MW. The capacity utilisation has also increased from 28% to around 74%.

November 30, 2016 0 comment

India Plans $3.1 Billion Support For Solar Equipment Manufacturing

written by saurabh

Unfazed by the unfavourable decision in an international trade dispute over subsidies for solar power projects using domestically manufactured equipment, the Indian government is looking to offer financial support to domestic manufacturers.

According to media reports quoting government sources, India is looking to offer a financial support package of $3.1 billion to solar power equipment manufacturing sector. The support, possibly in the form capital cost support, could be offered on per MW basis.

India plans to add more than 90 GW of solar power capacity between now and April 2022. There are real concerns that a very large majority of this capacity would be based on imported solar PV modules. Dependency on imported modules would mean a huge missed opportunity for developing a robust manufacturing base in the country.

Under the proposed scheme, the government plans to have a manufacturing base of 5 GW by 2019. With the capital cost support the government hopes that these products will be able compete with cheaper modules from China and the United States.

With sharp fall in prices of raw materials needed to manufacture solar power modules over the last few years, and buoyed by the highly ambitious capacity addition targets, several Indian and foreign companies have either started working on manufacturing facilities or are contemplating the same.

Adani Enterprises is planning to set up perhaps the largest solar power equipment manufacturing unit in the western state of Gujarat. First phase of the unit is expected to be operationalised by March 2017 and will have production capacity of 1.2 GW; a second phase is expected to be operational by June 2017 increasing the production capacity to 2 GW.

October 25, 2016 0 comment

Adani To Begin Production At 1.2 GW Solar Modules Factory By March 2017

written by saurabh

One of India’s leading industrial conglomerates – Adani Enterprises – is scheduled to being construction of its solar module manufacturing unit later this year.

Adani Enterprises recently stated that it plans to begin the construction of phase one of the planned 2 GW solar equipment manufacturing factory this year. The first phase is expected to be operationalised by March 2017 and will have production capacity of 1.2 GW; a second phase is expected to be operational by June 2017 increasing the production capacity to 2 GW.

The planned facility will produce polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and modules. Adani had last year signed an agreement with SunEdison to set up the largest solar module manufacturing facility in India. The two companies had agreed to invest $4 billion on the project.

Recent media reports has stated of a third phase for the production facility. The company will reportedly start polysilicon production upto 10,000 tonnes in the third phase.

Modules manufactured at the facility are likely to be absorbed in the company’s own projects and may be sold to other developers in the country and even sold to other markets. Adani Enterprises signed an agreement with the government of Rajasthan to set up 10 GW solar power park.

Last month, Adani Enterprises submitted an application with the Ministry of Environment and Forest for approval to set up 1 million tonne/year copper smelter. While the company did not specify the purpose of setting up the venture, media outlets quotes unnamed sources saying that the copper smelter would feed into the company’s solar module manufacturing units.

August 31, 2016 0 comment