India’s Solar Manufacturing Capacity Hits 50 GW for Modules, 6 GW for Cells: Minister Reveals

In a significant stride towards energy independence, India has proudly announced its achievement of self-sufficiency in the production of solar modules, with solar panels worth a remarkable $1.03 billion exported from the nation during the fiscal year 2022-23. This groundbreaking revelation was shared by the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power, shedding light on the country’s evolving status in renewable energy production.

The Minister disclosed that India has substantially bolstered its solar power generation capacity, with an impressive addition of approximately 12.78 gigawatts in the preceding financial year. Delving into the specifics, it was revealed that the installed capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing has soared to around 50 gigawatts, as per data from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) and assessments conducted by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE). However, while the nation has achieved self-sufficiency in solar module production, there remains a notable gap in the capacity for solar cell manufacturing, currently estimated at around 6 gigawatts.

Despite these strides, India has seen substantial imports of solar cells and modules over the past five years, totaling around $11,171 million. Notably, this constitutes only 0.4% of the country’s total merchandise imports during the same period, underscoring the growing importance of domestic production in meeting renewable energy demands.

To facilitate clearer categorization and tracking, changes have been implemented in the Harmonized System (HS) Codes, with Solar PV Cells now falling under HS Code 85414200 and Solar PV Modules under HS Code 85414300 since the fiscal year 2022-23. This move aims to streamline reporting and analysis of solar energy imports and exports for better oversight and strategic planning.

India’s strides in solar energy production underscore its commitment to sustainability and energy security, positioning the nation as a key player in the global renewable energy landscape.