The trend for large size solar modules with 210mm wafers is picking up pace also in one of the world's fastest growing solar PV markets. Indian module maker Solex Energy Limited will expand its existing capacity by an additional 1.2 GW with the help of production equipment from China's Jinchen Machinery Co. Ltd.
The Chinese supplier will ensure the delivery to Solex Energy's new facility to come up near Surat in Gujarat under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) it entered with its Indian counterpart recently. According to Solex Energy, the new facility is at an advanced stage of completion.
Jinchen Machinery will equip the fab with a fully automated production line with capacity to manufacture modules up to M12 or G12 (referring to 210mm wafer sized cells) with micro gap technology in 2 phases of 600 MW each. Solex Energy expects 600 MW under phase I to be commissioned by October 2021, while work for another 600 MW under phase II will start immediately after production of capacity installed under phase I starts.
Management said the company plans to go for backward integration by putting up a 1 GW solar cell manufacturing line in the coming years, without sharing further details.
Solex already runs a PV module manufacturing plant at Anand, also in Gujarat with an annual capacity of 70 MW. In October 2020, the Indian company revealed its plans to expand its annual module manufacturing capacity by 1.5 GW near Surat where it had already begun construction of the facility (see Indian Manufacturer Announces 1.5 GW Module Expansion).
For Jinchen Machinery, it is another big order from India since the beginning of 2021. In January 2021, Waaree Energies was reported to have placed an order for 3 GW of high efficiency PV module automated production equipment with the Chinese supplier (see Waaree Places Order For 3 GW Module Production Line).