India is leading the energy independence race in a world that values clean, renewable energy. The energy think tank Ember recently examined India’s astounding success of becoming the first country to considerably cut its solar panel imports from China. This shows India’s dedication to solar panel manufacturing.
The Magnificent Shift
According to the research, India’s solar module output has increased, reducing Chinese solar panel imports. Year after year, India’s imports of Chinese solar modules came down 76% or 7.5 GW. This has brought down a significant reduction in imports from 9.8 GW in the first half of 2022 to 2.3 GW in 2023. India’s aggressive measures, including tariffs, to reduce imports and promote domestic solar module manufacturing led to this shift.
Positive Trend
An India Electricity Policy Analyst at the think tank emphasized this encouraging trend. He stated that recent policy measures have decreased India’s solar module import dependency on China beyond 2022. This move is even more exciting because India is ready to build an effective policy environment to boost solar installations in line with the National Electricity Plan.
Global Impact
Ember’s recent analysis examined Chinese export data, underscoring China’s leadership in sustainable energy internationally. China remains a major solar player despite India’s decline in imports. In the first half of 2023, China exported 114 GW of solar panels abroad, up 34% from 85 GW the year before.
Read more: Top 10 Solar Panel Manufacturing Companies in India
The Rise of India’s Solar Panel Manufacturing
India gains from lowering its import dependency on China and promoting the indigenous solar industry. Here are some benefits:
● Boost to Domestic Solar Manufacturing
India is growing its solar manufacturing industry by limiting Chinese imports. This will boost the economy and create jobs. The fall in Chinese solar panel imports helps India cut its trade imbalance, improving self-reliance and economic resilience.
● Price Declines
Recent solar module price declines may enhance Indian panel purchases, offsetting import duty reductions.
● Tax Cuts
India’s efforts to eliminate import levies on solar panels and seek rollbacks in goods and services taxes will lower their cost and increase their uptake.
● Self-Sufficiency
India is on track to become a renewable energy leader and dramatically cut its carbon footprint as it nears solar panel manufacturing self-sufficiency.
Is India sailing in the right boat when it comes to addressing the demand-supply mismatch in solar manufacturing?
The lack of capital, inconsistent government policies, scale, and low-cost Chinese imports slowed India’s module manufacturing expansion while discouraging solar module manufacturers in India. Some other crucial factors include the following:
The National Solar Mission
The National Solar Mission, a Union and State Government project to promote solar energy, boosted Indian module manufacturing in 2010. In the initial 150 MW and 350 MW solar tenders, bidders had to utilize domestic solar PV modules. Local players received subsidy funds under the Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme in 2012. In subsequent years, the Indian government adopted the Domestic Content Requirement and safeguarded tariff to reduce cheap imports and support the booming sector.
Techno-economic risks
Later, schemes reserved 50% of the project’s bid capacity for indigenous solar cells and modules and allowed the other 50% to be put up with imported modules. However, the US contested this in the WTO. Thus, in January 2018, projects tendered for locally made solar cells and modules started reserving capacity. Most central government measures failed to indigenize the PV value chain nationwide. Apart from industry policies and regulations, setting up and operating solar module manufacturing plants in India involves significant techno-economic risks.
Huge potential for domestic solar manufacturing
The problems of these risks plus the expanding annual demand for solar installation in the country indicate huge potential for domestic solar module manufacture. Solar cells, modules, and inverters are key imports for the Indian solar sector. Imports cost the sector billions annually. India imported $2.55 billion in solar wafers, cells, modules, and inverters in 2019-20, according to official statistics. The government has implemented Basic Customs Duty from 2022 to boost domestic manufacturing. India cannot meet the 280 GW solar objectives with its current production capabilities.
Indian cell production is a little over 3 GW per year. Module output in the country is five times solar cell production. Module vendors prefer higher-grade solar cells; therefore, indigenously manufactured ones are rarely in demand. Domestic cells are also more expensive due to most cell producers’ small production capacity. Due to these characteristics, domestic module providers choose high-quality imported cells.
India’s clean energy transformation requires widespread renewable power deployment, particularly solar. The Indian solar business is growing rapidly, but the path ahead is difficult. India needs to install 250 GW of solar energy capacity in the coming years to actualize its 2030 solar ambitions.
A Bright Future
The Indian government’s efforts and initiatives for indigenous solar manufacturing helped achieve this remarkable accomplishment. The government has encouraged investments, required domestic sourcing, and strengthened the renewable energy manufacturing industry. This comprehensive strategy has benefited domestic solar manufacturing. Indian renewable energy progress strengthens national energy security and aids global climate change initiatives. A strong commitment to sustainability, a growing domestic solar manufacturing industry, and government assistance are putting India on the path to becoming a model for reducing import dependency and leading the way to a cleaner, greener future.
Concluding Remarks
Insolation Energy, India’s national energy provider is taking forward India’s mission in the fields of solar energy. The company has an ultramodern 100 MW SPV Module manufacturing line with minimal manual intervention, Automatic Tabber & Stringer, inline Pre & Post EL Tester, Automatic Framing Machine for seamless framing, and AAA Class inline Sun Simulator. The company’s expert team and technology professionals at the shop floor supervise the best of automatic machinery in its solar panel manufacturing line.
All test equipment for inward, in-process, and final QA according to BIS and international standards is available at the factory. As the top solar panel maker in India, the company evaluates each module at each stage to ensure supreme quality. As demands change, the company improves its machinery. The company has passionate and knowledgeable solar panel experts and installers who can help you design and select the best solar system to suit your requirements.
