India Approves 6 Solar Cell Makers with 13 GW Annual Capacity
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has approved six domestic manufacturers for its ALMM-Listed Solar Cells Mandatory compliance program, collectively boasting 13 GW of annual production capacity.
Driving Solar Growth with Domestic Manufacturing
The selected players—FS India (First Solar’s local unit), Jupiter, Emmvee, Mundra (Adani), Premier Energies, and ReNew—now hold the keys to supplying India’s booming solar sector. This development is expected to boost the country’s solar manufacturing growth while meeting the government’s renewable energy targets.
Approved Manufacturers and Their Capacities
- Adani Mundra: 3.8 GW (PERC/TOPCon)
- First Solar: 3.2 GW (Thin Film)
- Premier Energies: Monocrystalline PERC
- Emmvee: 1.5 GW TOPCon
- Jupiter: 779 MW
TOPCon vs PERC: A Technological Comparison
The approved manufacturers offer different technological advantages. TOPCon cells (like Emmvee’s) deliver higher efficiency in space-constrained installations, while PERC technology (Adani’s focus) remains the workhorse for utility-scale projects. This diversity helps developers optimize projects based on land availability and tariff structures, ultimately driving solar profitability through efficient execution.
Procurement Timeline Implications
With the August 2025 deadline approaching, developers must reassess supply chains. The approval of these six manufacturers significantly impacts India’s solar manufacturing boom, though the current 13 GW capacity still falls short of the 30 GW annual requirement to meet 2030 renewable targets. Solar project financing will be crucial in bridging this gap.
