Seeing the positive response from both government and end users, Waaree Energies Ltd— India’s largest tier I solar modules and panel manufacturer, is planning to expand its solar capacity to 1.2 GW very soon.
“We have an aim to make 1.2 GW factory in India in next couple of months and probably expand to 1.7 GW before the end of this financial year.” said Sunil Rathi -Director- Sales and Marketing to Electronics Bazaar.
On the technology side, Waaree is expanding its US-based high performance photovoltaic module technology called Merlin in Indian market in a big way. “Currently in India there are 20 plus locations where we have commissioned Merlin cells. This is a new generation technology that surpasses the problems like microcracks of current polycrystalline or monocrystalline cells. Because of its unique benefits, we also grabbed some orders from Indian railways to install Merlin cells in rail coaches’’, Rathi said.
Highlighting the positive side of solar manufacturing in India, Rathi is expecting a big boom in domestic solar market in coming years. “Positive side of Indian solar manufacturer is we know how to make a quality model. You will hardly see any Indian solar manufacturer product failed anywhere in the country. Practically, most of the people have understood the manufacturing business and they are matured enough now. They are all now geared up to expand their capacity.”
Rathi thinks that the only problem which is restricting this growth is the seasonal demand. “In our country the solar demand is very seasonal. We always have a demand in last quarter and first and second quarter are really low which somehow disrupts the growth ration” he adds.
Rathi believes that the implementation of anti-dumping duty will improve the current scenario of Indian solar industry which is facing financial collapse by Chinese competitors. “Imposition of anti-dumping duty should have been happened much before and we expect that this action will really increase the manufacturing base in India. Many foreign countries will start their production in India with its effect.”
-By Shruti Mishra
