Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils 45 MW monocrystalline solar panel plant at PDPU

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated a 45 MW production plant of monocrystalline solar photovoltaic panels at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University’s campus in Gandhinagar district of Gujarat.

The production line—unveiled online at the university’s eighth Convocation—will demonstrate the process of cell-to-panel integration, lamination and EL testing. 

According to the university, this will be the first manufacturing capability demonstration of 45 MW solar PV modules through a government-academia partnership.  

The infrastructure will directly execute capacity building programs in technology development, production management, finance management in solar production, and showcase benchmarking for best practices.  

The production line aims to boost research and innovation for promoting Make in India and Startup India programs.

Addressing the PDPU convocation virtually, PM Modi expressed confidence that India will achieve the 175 GW renewable energy target before time. 

“Solar power has become a major priority of the country. We have pledged for 175 GW renewable energy by 2022, and I am confident that we will achieve the target before 2022. We have set a huge target of 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030. I am confident that it will also be achieved before time,” Modi said.

He announced that as the nation moves forward to reduce its carbon footprint by 30-35%, efforts are underway to increase natural gas share in the nation’s energy needs by four times in this decade. Work is on to double the oil refining capacity in the next five years. Energy security-related startup ecosystem is being strengthened, and a fund has been created for students and professionals, the Prime Minister informed.