- Centrotherm counts its India order book for cell manufacturing equipment to add up to over 10 GW
- It includes a single order of 4 GW PERC solar cell production line worth €57 million, won in December 2022
- Orders have been placed by 6 different customers, including existing and new ones
German solar cell equipment manufacturer centrotherm international AG says it has received more than 10 GW of solar cell manufacturing orders from India from 6 different customers and expects an ‘unprecedented year and rest of the decade’ for solar PV manufacturing in India.
While centrotherm does not name any companies, the management says its Indian presence centrotherm India has secured orders from existing customers with repeat orders, customers that are new to solar PV manufacturing, and customers that plan vertical integration by adding cell manufacturing to augment their module line.
Among the orders received is one for a 4 GW PERC solar cell production line worth €57 million which it bid for and won in December 2022 with an unidentified company. It prompted the German company to raise its forecast for order intake for FY 2022 to range between €330 million to €360 million, up from the previous guidance of €220 million to €260 million.
According to centrotherm, several companies in India have embarked in cell manufacturing encouraged by the Indian government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, imposition of basic customs duty (BCD) on imported solar cells and modules, and the push to ensure local procurement of these components for government projects.
“We are adding to our team in India as we look forward with confidence to more factories coming up in India and centrotherm being ready to support as a reliable partner,” stated centrotherm.
Under tranche I of the PLI scheme, India selected Shirdi Sai Electricals, Reliance New Energy Solar and Adani Infrastructure to build a cumulative 8.73 GW integrated capacity. In November 2022, tranche II was also launched with incentives worth INR 195 billion on offer (see India Launches PLI Scheme Tranche II Solar Manufacturing Tender).
