Alpex Solar & Jakson Engineers Planning Solar Cell Manufacturing

Publicly listed Indian solar PV manufacturer Alpex Solar Ltd has revealed plans to double its module manufacturing capacity to 2.4 GW as it also explores the possibility of venturing into solar cell production.  

Its current module factory in Greater Noida has an annual production capacity of 450 MW, which is to be further expanded to 1.2 GW in FY 2025. Of this, 900 MW has already been installed, with the remaining 300 MW to be concluded over the next 3 months, by Q3 FY 2025.  

It now wants to expand with an additional 1.2 GW capacity to be installed as a new greenfield project. For the new factory, it has acquired land at Kosi Kotwan in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district. By FY 2026, its total production capacity of 2.4 GW is expected to be operational.  

The manufacturer had also been planning to invest part of its proceeds for a new aluminium frame manufacturing facility. The company has now revealed that the aluminium frame-cutting line is operational under phase I. Remaining 2 phases are to be implemented in the newly acquired land parcel at Kosi Kotwan. 

Alpex has also secured a green signal from the company board to explore the possibility of setting up a solar cell production line, at a GW scale. This fab is also planned to be located at Kosi Kotwan.  

“Being one of the oldest and reputed manufacturers of solar modules, we are exploring the foray into solar cell manufacturing. This may afford us multiple advantages, including cost, profitability, and branding, and boost our ability to offer turnkey services to the end user,” said Alpex Solar Managing Director Ashwani Sehgal.  

Currently, the negotiations for solar cell manufacturing are at an advanced stage. It aims to meet the capital outlay through additional facilities from banks and financial institutions, internal accruals, and equity infusion, it added.  

Alpex also serves as a contract manufacturer for several other companies, including Jakson, which has also announced an INR 20 billion ($238 million) investment to establish a 2.5 GW solar cell manufacturing fab in 2 phases.  

According to local media reports, Jakson Green will also increase its existing solar module production capacity to 2 GW. Its focus will be on TOPCon technology.  

Jakson Green aims to become a 5 GW integrated solar wafer, cell and module manufacturer.  

Both Alpex and Jakson’s decisions to venture into solar cell manufacturing come at a time when the Indian government is planning to cover solar cells under the ambit of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (see India Solar PV News Snippets: Von Ardenne’s Dr. Sebastian Gatz At RE+ 2024 & More).