Vikram Solar Limited has announced that its upcoming 9-gigawatt (GW) N-type TOPCon solar cell manufacturing facility in Gangaikondan, Tamil Nadu, is on track to begin production of its first solar cells by December 2026. Located at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Tirunelveli district, the facility marks a significant step in the company’s strategy to expand beyond solar module manufacturing and establish a fully integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem in India. The plant’s entire 9 GW capacity will be commissioned in phases following the initial production rollout.
The new facility aims to address India’s dependence on imported solar cells, which remain a critical component of the country’s expanding solar module manufacturing industry. Although India has significantly increased its domestic module production capacity, a considerable share of the cells used in these modules has continued to be sourced from overseas markets. Solar cells play a crucial role in determining module efficiency, reliability and overall production costs.
Once operational, the Gangaikondan facility will supply high-efficiency TOPCon solar cells for a substantial portion of Vikram Solar’s module manufacturing requirements. This will enable the company to manufacture domestically integrated solar modules, covering multiple production stages from cells to finished modules. The products are expected to serve utility-scale solar projects, rooftop installations, government programmes such as PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM, and international customers seeking diversified supply chains. The company also plans to pursue enlistment of the facility’s solar cells under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II.
The cell manufacturing project represents the second phase of Vikram Solar’s three-stage integration roadmap at the Gangaikondan campus. The first phase, comprising a 6 GW solar module manufacturing plant, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in August 2026. The third phase involves a planned 9 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing facility, targeted for completion by the financial year 2029. The company has also outlined plans to increase its solar cell manufacturing capacity from 9 GW to 12 GW in the future.
Spread across nearly 200 acres, the integrated manufacturing campus is being developed through Vikram Solar’s wholly owned subsidiary, VSL Green Power Private Limited. Once the planned facilities are established, the campus is expected to manufacture ingots, wafers, solar cells and modules within a single ecosystem. This integrated approach is intended to improve supply chain efficiency, strengthen quality control, shorten production cycles and reduce logistics costs. The project is also expected to create more than 2,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Gyanesh Chaudhary, Chairman and Managing Director of Vikram Solar, said the upcoming cell production facility represents an important step towards reducing the company’s reliance on imported cells. Headquartered in Kolkata, Vikram Solar operates across 39 countries and maintains a broad domestic presence. The project is expected to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities while supporting India’s efforts to develop a more self-reliant solar supply chain.
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