ReNew Power Unveils 2 GW Solar Manufacturing Plans

• ReNew Power will develop its 2 GW solar cell and modules manufacturing capacity in Gujarat's Dholera
• It would deploy monocrystalline PERC and large wafer format technology, using industry 4.0 manufacturing standards
• End products will be used by the company for its own utility scale generation projects, and also sold to other players in the country when it comes online in FY 2023

Less than a year after announcing its decision to enter into solar cell manufacturing, Indian renewable energy company ReNew Power said it has chosen Gujarat to develop a 2 GW solar cell and module manufacturing facility (see ReNew Power To Enter Cell Manufacturing).

In an official statement, ReNew Power shared it will develop a 2 GW facility for producing solar cells and modules using monocrystalline PERC and large wafer technology on 100 acres of land, allocated by the state government, in Dholera Special Industrial Region (DSIR). This land, it explained, ensures adequate availability of land for future capacity expansion.

ReNew Power said the facility will deploy industry 4.0 manufacturing standards, and create 2,500 jobs in the state of Gujarat.

The facility will be vertically integrated in terms of processes and infrastructure for the manufacturing of cells and modules. Management plans for the facility to start operations from fiscal year 2023, which will begin on April 1, 2022 and end on March 31, 2023.

Once online, the manufacturing fab will roll out products to power the company's own utility scale solar generation business, and will also sell components to other renewable energy companies in the country.

According to the company, the manufacturing capacity being set up will incorporate ReNew Power's sustainability initiatives and ensure decarbonization of manufacturing processes and supply chain to create a 'Green Factory' of the future.

Having an in-house manufacturing unit will save the company high customs duties it would otherwise pay for imported components with effect from April 1, 2022, when Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on cells and modules comes into effect (see India imposes basic Customs Duty on Cells & Modules).

"The Indian Government's Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules has opened up several avenues for domestic manufacturing in the renewable energy sector," said Founder, Chairman and CEO of ReNew Power, Sumant Sinha. "ReNew plans to manufacture both solar cells and modules in the Dholera manufacturing facility with the goal of creating a globally competitive manufacturing unit.

In April 2021, Indian government approved PLI scheme to encourage solar module manufacturing within the country which according to its estimates will add 10 GW integrated production capacity (see Indian Cabinet Approves PLI Scheme For Solar Manufacturing (see Indian Cabinet Approves PLI Scheme For Solar Manufacturing).