ReNew Power to set up 2 GW mono PERC solar factory in Gujarat

Haryana-based developer ReNew Power has announced it has selected the Indian State of Gujarat for its solar cell and module manufacturing facility. 

The factory will be located in the Dholera Special Industrial Region (DSIR), approximately 100 km outside the city of Ahmedabad.

The greenfield facility will manufacture 2 GW of solar cells and modules annually using monocrystalline PERC (passivated emitter and rear contact) and large wafer technology. It will implement state-of-the-art practices in line with Industry 4.0 manufacturing standards. 

The Dholera manufacturing facility will also sell components to other renewable energy companies in India, apart from meeting ReNew Power’s own requirements for its utility-scale power generation business. It is expected to generate 2500 jobs in the state.

The project has been allocated 100 acres of land by the state government, which, the company said, is adequate to ensure any future capacity expansion. The plant is expected to be vertically integrated in terms of processes and infrastructure to manufacture solar cells and modules. It is expected to commence production from the fiscal year 2022-23. 

“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,” read a statement by Renew Power.

Speaking about the development, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of ReNew Power, 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. We are committed to India’s ambition of achieving 450 GW of clean energy generation capacity by 2030, and we believe the new manufacturing unit will play an important role in boosting India’s domestic manufacturing capacity for clean energy.”

The new facility will help the company to bring a crucial function in-house and avoid paying high customs duties on imported components, which are expected to come into force from April 1, 2022.