First Solar and GameChange Solar are expanding their collaboration in the Indian market
The partnership supports compliance with India’s domestic manufacturing requirements under the ALMM and ALCM frameworks
Both companies say they are continuing efforts to improve solar generation performance through integrated module and tracker design for the Indian market
First Solar and GameChange Solar, the US-headquartered solar module and tracker companies, respectively, have announced an expanded collaboration in India following the successful operation of 2 utility-scale solar projects using First Solar’s modules with GameChange Solar’s Genius Tracker systems.
The projects, according to the partners, have been operating for more than a year and have recorded uptime levels of about 99.8%, demonstrating the compatibility of the companies’ technologies in Indian conditions.
Both companies see First Solar’s manufacturing base in India as enabling developers to reduce compliance and supply chain risks. Their expanded partnership seeks to support the deployment of First Solar’s domestically manufactured thin-film solar modules.
First Solar rolls out its Series 7 modules from its India solar module production facility with 3.3 GW annual capacity in Tamil Nadu (see India’s ‘1st’ Fully Integrated Vertically Integrated PV Plant).
Vikram Kenjale, Vice President – India at GameChange Solar, said, “What we are seeing now is a shift in how projects are being designed. It is no longer just about module or tracker selection in isolation, but how the two work together to deliver consistent generation over the day. Our work with First Solar is focused on that integration, and the results we are seeing on operating projects reinforce the impact this can have on overall performance.”
The announcement comes as India increases the use of domestically manufactured solar equipment under regulations such as the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) and the Approved List of Cell Manufacturers (ALCM). First Solar is part of both lists.
Over the past year, GameChange Solar said it invested in research and engineering to optimize compatibility between its tracker systems and First Solar’s India-made modules, including the Series 7 platform.
The duo says the partnership is now working to improve the energy generation curve for end customers and overall system performance with respective product synergies.
Sujoy Ghosh, Vice President – Business Development at First Solar, said India remains an important market for the company and that local manufacturing and partnerships can support more reliable project execution.