India's government empaneled solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing capacity has hit the 100 gigawatt (GW) mark, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the development is yet another milestone towards self-reliance. "It depicts the success of India's manufacturing capabilities and our efforts towards popularising clean energy," he said on social media X.
Union MNRE minister Pralhad Joshi said the milestone is significant also because the production of solar modules happened at a rapid pace. Joshi called it a "remarkable rise" from just 2.3 GW in 2014.
"With transformative initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar modules, we are building a robust, self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem. This achievement strengthens our path towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and the target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030," he said.
The 100 GW solar module capacity developed is fully under the government's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). The ALMM is a list maintained by the MNRE, specifying which solar PV modules and their manufacturers are eligible for use in government and government-assisted solar projects. It ensures that only quality-assured and compliant modules are used, promoting reliability and performance in the solar energy sector.
The ALMM order was issued by the MNRE on January 2, 2019. The first ALMM list for solar PV modules was published on March 10, 2021 with an initial enlisted capacity of around 8.2 GW. In over four years, this capacity has grown more than twelvefold, crossing the 100 GW mark.
Also read: Govt may extend PLI scheme deadline for solar module projects
The MNRE said the expansion of solar module manufacturing is not just limited to depth of the capacity achieved. "But also by the breadth of the number of manufacturers who has also significantly increased from 21 in 2021 to 100 manufacturers, who are operating 123 manufacturing units currently," it said in a statement.
It added that this growth includes contributions from both established companies and new entrants, many of whom have adopted high-efficiency technologies and vertically integrated operations. "The result is a diverse and competitive manufacturing landscape capable of meeting domestic needs and serving global markets," the MNRE said.
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