To cut imports from China, new rules will require Indian solar companies to use solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from cells made locally by a government-approved list of companies from June 2026. At present it’s mandatory to use locally-made PV modules in government projects from an approved list of domestic manufacturers, and authorities have now extended this rule to solar cells as well, reported ET and other news outlets.
Currently, India has a solar PV module-making capacity of about 80 gigawatts (GW), while its cell-making capacity is slightly more than 7 GW, with companies largely relying on Chinese cells to make modules. Several Indian companies have already set up or are in the process of establishing solar cell making plants.
The news outlet said Tata Power recently commissioned a 4.3 GW cell making plant in southern India. Reliance Industries aims to commission its first phase of a 20 GW integrated solar cell and module production facility before the end of this year in the state of Gujarat, where the Adani Group already has a 4 GW cell and module making plant.
Solar power scheme sets up 6.85 lakh solar installations
Backed by state subsidy the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the scheme has achieved more than 6.85 lakh installations to date, and is set to surpass a decade’s solar growth in about a year, reported ET.
Since its launch in February this year, the scheme with 6,85,763 installations has already reached 86% of what was installed in a decade before that. The key demand came from the 3-5 kW load segment at 77% installations, while 14% was in the segment higher than 5kW.
Gujarat witnessed the maximum number of solar installations under the initiative at 2,86,545. Maharashtra stands next with 1,26,344 installations, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 53,423 installations.
Waaree and IIT Bombay to jointly develop perovskite solar research
Waaree Energies Ltd, India’s largest manufacturer of solar PV modules plans to partner with IIT Bombay to advance research and development in solar perovskite cells, to jointly create an advanced fabrication and characterisation setup for high-efficiency perovskite solar cells.
Perovskite solar cells represent a breakthrough in solar technology with their remarkable light absorption and efficiency potential. The setup at IIT Bombay will provide a sophisticated platform for students and researchers to pioneer clean energy solutions, PV Magazine reported.
18% growth in global renewable energy jobs in 2023, compared to 2022
In 2023 global renewable energy jobs grew 18% compared to 2022, new study has found. According to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the renewable energy sector expanded from 13.7 million jobs in 2022 to 16.2 million jobs in 2023. This unprecedented growth highlights the increasing global demand for sustainable energy sources and the vital role renewables play in the global economy, the WEF reported citing the research findings.
US imposes more tariffs for solar panels from Southeast Asian nations
The US has announced a new round of tariffs on solar panel imports from Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, reported the Reuters. The American manufacturers’ lobby groups accused big Chinese solar panel makers with factories in Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand of causing global prices to collapse by dumping products into the market.
According to a preliminary decision the government agency calculated dumping duties of between 21.31% and 271.2%, depending on the company, on solar cells from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, China has said wind and solar products exported from China helped other countries reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 810m metric tonnes. “Over the past decade, global wind and solar power costs have decreased by 60 to 80 percent, with China contributing the majority of this reduction,” said Zhang Mianrong, chairman, Energy Development Research Institute under the China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd.
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