India will mandate the use of solar cells made locally in all clean energy projects by June 2026

From June 2026, Indian clean energy companies will have to use solar photovoltaic modules made from local cells by a list of approved companies. This is a measure to reduce imports from China, the top supplier.

India has already required the use of solar cells made in India for government projects.

The government intends to increase the non-fossil energy capacity of its country to 500 GW from 156 GW currently.

India currently has a capacity to produce solar PV modules of around 80 gigawatts, while its capacity to manufacture cells is slightly over 7 GW. Companies rely heavily on Chinese cells for the production of modules.

The renewable energy ministry announced on Monday that the government would issue a list with approved cell manufacturers, as it is expected that the installed capacity for solar PV cells will increase significantly in the next year.

Solar cell manufacturing plants are being established by several Indian companies.

Tata Power has recently commissioned a 4.3 GW plant for cell production in southern India. Reliance Industries plans to start its first phase in the 20 GW integrated cell and module production facility by the end of the year, in Gujarat where Adani Group has already built a 4 GW module and cell manufacturing plant. (Reporting and editing by Sethuraman N; Sonia Cheema).

(source: Reuters)