Indian solar module manufacturer Gautam Solar has unveiled ambitious plans to double its annual module production capacity to an impressive 2 gigawatts (GW) by the conclusion of the next year. This ambitious expansion, amounting to an investment of INR 1.5 billion (approximately US$17 million), underscores the company's commitment to fortifying its presence in the dynamic solar market.
Gautam Solar currently operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located in the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. While the specific allocation of the investment was not detailed, the company has clarified that the augmented manufacturing capacity will be channeled toward the production of cutting-edge tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) modules.
Both TOPCon and PERC modules have garnered heightened attention from the solar manufacturing sector in recent months. The allure lies in their potential for significantly enhanced conversion efficiency, making them an attractive choice for those seeking to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of solar energy generation.
Gautam Mohanka, CEO of Gautam Solar, expressed the company's dedication to contributing to the growth of India's indigenous solar manufacturing sector in alignment with the government's vision. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with industry stakeholders to propel domestic solar module manufacturing, ultimately supporting India's pursuit of its net-zero emissions goal.
Mr. Mohanka stated, “The fervently dedicated team of experts at Gautam Solar has been working extensively to leverage cutting-edge technologies to create innovative products and strategize solutions to escalate solar module manufacturing domestically.”
This announcement comes amidst increasing interest in India's solar manufacturing sector, as solar companies worldwide seek to expand their manufacturing capabilities. Earlier this year, TotalEnergies, in collaboration with European Energy and Indian energy giant Adani, established a new joint venture company dedicated to developing 4GW of onshore renewables on a global scale. Furthermore, Tata Power and the United States government entered into an agreement to establish a formidable 4.3GW cell and module manufacturing facility in India.
Joint ventures and investments of this nature hold great promise in advancing India's clean energy goals. While the Indian government aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, a later target compared to some other nations, it faces the substantial challenge of reducing its heavy reliance on coal, oil, and solid biomass, which accounted for over 80% of the country's energy consumption in 2021, as reported by the International Energy Agency.
