ReNew Power Goes with Gujarat For Solar Component Manufacturing Plant

Leading renewable energy firm ReNew Power has announced that it will be going to Gujarat for the development of a solar cell and module manufacturing plant. The manufacturing plans had been announced by ReNew Power last year, and it has picked the Dholera Special Industrial Region (DSIR), about 100 km away from Ahmedabad . Gujarat, as a frontline state for renewable energy in India, has also got some of ReNew’s biggest existing and future projects. Plus it offers the advantage of a multiple ports for easy access to imports and exports.To that extent, expect the state to win quite a few of the fresh manufacturing that is being planned, along with Rajasthan possibly.

According to ReNew, the greenfield plant will produce 2 GW of solar cells and modules annually using state-of-the-art monocrystalline PERC (Passivated Emitter & Rear Contact) and large wafer technology. The new project has been given 100 acres of land by the Gujarat government, assuring adequate availability of land for future capacity expansion.

The manufacturing of solar cells and modules and plant operations are expected to begin from the fiscal year 2023 (FY23). 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, as per the company’s claims. The manufacturing plant is expected to generate 2500 jobs in the state.

Speaking about the development, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of ReNew Power, Mr. Sumant Sinha said, “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. ReNew plans to manufacture both solar cells and modules in the Dholera manufacturing facility with the goal of creating a globally competitive manufacturing unit.”

The Dholera manufacturing plant will sell components to other renewable energy companies in India, apart from supplying to ReNew Power’s own utility-scale power generation business. This will directly promote the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan of the country.

Gujarat has been one of the pioneers in promoting renewable energy and ReNew’s first power project, a 25.2 MW wind farm, was also commissioned in Jasdan, Gujarat.

In India, domestic manufacturing of modules and cells is expected to help renewable energy companies reduce their dependence on imported components and finished modules from China, which currently accounts for nearly 80 percent of the world’s solar module production.

“The Gujarat Government is delighted to have ReNew Power set up its solar equipment manufacturing facility in Dholera. The Honourable Chief Minister Shri Vijay Rupani’s strong vision of promoting and increasing the share of renewable energy and the state’s progressive policies have provided the right support to clean energy projects,” said Mr. M K Das, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister of Gujarat and Chairman of Dholera Industrial City Development Limited.

The PLI scheme announced by the Government of India in 2020 will also provide financial incentives to domestic manufacturing units and is expected to help add 10,000 megawatts (10 GW) of integrated solar PV manufacturing capacity in the country. Announcements adding up to over 15 GW of manufacturing have already been made by multiple firms to make in India.