India is in the midst of a historic energy transition, and the stakes have never been higher. Population growth, electrification, data centre expansion, and rising industrial demand are placing extraordinary pressure on the nation’s power infrastructure. At the same time, climate vulnerability demands solutions that are not only low-carbon in operation but also responsible in how they are made. Solar energy sits at the heart of this transformation. Yet, as adoption accelerates, the critical question is no longer simply how much solar capacity can be installed, but how clean and sustainable the manufacturing process behind it truly is. Heterojunction Technology (HJT) has become one of the most compelling answers to that challenge.
HJT solar cells represent a breakthrough in photovoltaic manufacturing because they operate at significantly lower production temperatures than conventional technologies. Traditional PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) solar manufacturing relies on diffusion and firing processes that reach between 800°C and 1,000°C. By contrast, HJT uses plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition at just 150–250°C. This reduction in thermal intensity reduces energy use during production by an estimated 40–60% and substantially lowers associated carbon emissions. Some manufacturers report product carbon footprints averaging around 366 gCO₂e per watt, with aims to drive that number below 300 gCO₂e/W in the coming years.
The lower thermal budget has another quiet advantage: it avoids material stress, enabling thinner silicon wafers to be used without compromising performance. This reduces raw material consumption and opens the door for sustainable materials that would not survive high-temperature processes. Taken together, HJT’s low-temperature architecture establishes a manufacturing foundation that is inherently more efficient, climate-aligned, and scalable.
The sustainability imperative is particularly relevant in India, where the philosophy around renewable growth is now grounded in climate justice, energy security, and economic resilience. India’s COP26 “Panchamrit” commitments define five strategic goals, including reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, reducing carbon intensity by 45% from 2005 levels, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. With over 259 GW of renewable energy capacity already installed by late 2025, the country has surpassed one of its key milestones five years ahead of schedule. Solar power is central to this success. India ranks third globally in solar capacity and continues to expand through a combination of rooftop schemes, agricultural programs, and large-scale solar park deployments.
Government initiatives have translated ambition into execution. The PM Surya Ghar initiative targets rooftop solar installation for millions of households, ensuring free electricity up to 300 units per month. PM-KUSUM provides farmers with standalone solar pumps and solarises existing diesel-based systems, cutting fuel dependency and uplifting rural incomes. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes prioritise domestic manufacturing of high-efficiency modules to reduce external supply reliance.
These programs reflect a deepening government focus on technologies that are not just efficient but low-carbon in origin. HJT aligns naturally with this shift because it offers high output and reliability with intrinsically lower production emissions. Solar companies are now aligning with establishing their ALMM manufacturing base to build a better cohesive ecosystem, and in line with that, Loom Solar is also setting up its 1.2 GW plant in Kosi, Uttar Pradesh.
Beyond manufacturing, HJT modules deliver superior field performance that further strengthens their sustainability profile. Efficiencies above 22%, improved low-light performance, and better temperature coefficients mean more energy generation per square meter and reduced losses during hot periods. The importance of this attribute cannot be overstated in India’s climate, where module performance between noon and 4 p.m. significantly affects long-term economics.
Unlike many conventional solar technologies, HJT is free from light-induced degradation (LID) and potential-induced degradation (PID), which ensures stable performance over decades. HJT panels commonly deliver operational lifespans exceeding 30 years, compared to 25 years for conventional panels. Longer lifespan equals fewer replacements, less waste, fewer logistics emissions, and lower lifecycle environmental burden.
HJT’s low-degradation characteristics also make it compatible with bifacial modules, which gather energy from both front and rear surfaces, especially valuable in high-albedo environments such as industrial rooftops or dry plains. Combined with improved thermal stability, this allows HJT systems to produce more total kilowatt-hours over their lifetime, supporting India’s goals of maximising yield within limited land resources. In climates with frequent seasonal variation, including monsoon-driven cloud cover, the low-light efficiency of HJT proves especially advantageous. It sustains steady energy output, ensuring additional generation that compounds across years of operation.
The technology is also structurally positioned to support future solar innovation. Because HJT cells are produced under low thermal stress, they provide a platform for tandem configurations, including perovskite-on-silicon systems that may achieve commercially viable efficiencies above 35%. This future-readiness aligns with domestic innovation goals under PLI programs, which encourage industrial R&D investment and scalable intellectual property creation in India rather than technology dependency on imports.
As India modernises its grid through Green Energy Corridor investments and deploys storage technologies such as battery energy storage systems and pumped hydro, HJT’s sustainable manufacturing footprint becomes a strategic asset. Reduced raw material intensity, lower embedded carbon, longer lifespan, and higher daily yield all contribute to a lower total cost of ownership. Panel longevity means reduced demand for recycling cycles and more predictable capacity planning, which is essential for utility-scale and industrial consumers. In international contexts where carbon accounting and tariff regulations are becoming standard, solar modules that originate from low-carbon manufacturing pathways may soon command preferential procurement status.
India has proven that fast renewable deployment is possible. The next phase is defined by quality, sustainability, and lifecycle accountability. HJT’s low-temperature manufacturing model addresses that evolution head-on. Clean energy must be clean in operation and clean in creation. By driving down energy demand at the factory level while increasing energy production in the field, HJT demonstrates that sustainability and efficiency do not need to be competing priorities — they can be engineered into the same solution.
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