India adds 11.3 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity in H1

Module manufacturing capacity is expected to breach 172 GW by 2026.

The strong demand from India’s solar project pipeline has fueled the expansion of the country’s solar module manufacturing capacity, which added 11.3 gigawatts (GW) to reach 77.2 GW as of the first half (H1) of 2024.

Mercom India’s Solar PV Manufacturing in India 1H 2024 report also noted that the reimposition of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers drove the additions in H1.

The top locations for solar module manufacturing were Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. 

India’s solar cell capacity also increased by two gigawatts to reach 7.6 GW as of June 2024, Mercom said.

Mercom expects the country’s module manufacturing capacity to surpass 172 GW, and cell capacity to reach over 80 GW by 2026.

In H1, various government entities issued  7.6 GW of tenders to procure solar modules. 

Solar photovoltaic module and cell imports surged 338% and 152%, respectively. Meanwhile, their exports were up 16% and 195%, respectively, the report said.