Azure looking to buy Indian-made solar equipment

Azure Power is now starting to look at Indian manufacturers for solar equipment like solar cells and modules. It currently sources equipment from companies in the U.S., Europe and China, but that it is also starting to look.

However, the pricing of modules from Indian manufacturers could be slightly higher than from suppliers,observed  Mr. Indepreet Wadhwa, Azure Power CEO.

India has made it mandatory to use domestic solar cells and modules for solar photovoltaic projects under the National Solar Mission. Moser-Baer  Ltd. and Tata BP Solar--a joint venture between Tata Power Co. and BP PLC--are two of the main solar equipment makers in India.

Azure Power is building 22 megawatts of power projects in the states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat and Wadhwa emphasized that their company uses solar photovoltaic technology for its projects.
"There are several technology risks that we don't feel comfortable taking at this point,” he said about solar thermal. “With photovoltaic, the technology risks are fewer," he added.

Under the solar photovoltaic technology, the sun's energy converts directly into electricity. With solar thermal technology, solar energy converts into thermal energy.