The photovoltaic cell and module manufacturing industry in India has developed from less than 200 megawatts (MW) in 2007, to around two gigawatts (GW) in 2011. Bridge to India estimates that it will see ‘significant’ growth over the next few years.
Specifically, it believes that due to falling raw material costs, expected to be triggered by the development of a ‘healthy’ domestic supply chain, module production will grow from 1.3 GW in 2011, to 6 GW in 2020. Meanwhile, cell production is forecast to increase to 4 GW, from 700 megawatts (MW) in the same period.
Ingots and wafers, which were not manufactured in India until 2010, will grow to represent capacities of 4 GW in 2020, up from just 17 MW this year, according to the research company.
It goes on to cite companies like Lanco Solar and Birla Surya, which are in the process of establishing complete integrated module manufacturing facilities up to 600 MW in size. “Various smaller and new business entities such as Alfa Solar, JBM Group, Chemtrols Solar, Vorks Energy and Sonali Energies as new entrants in the PV industry are also planning to build new facilities for production of modules,” it adds.
Moreover, in the next five years, already established players like Tata BP, EMMVEE, Moser Baer and XL Energy, will also reportedly expand their existing production capacities by over one GW, thus serving to boost the domestic market.
