There is remarkable progress in India’s clean energy journey over the past decade, making the country emerge as one of the world’s fastest-growing solar energy markets. The pace at which solar power is being installed across the nation is nothing short of impressive. But it wasn’t always like this.
For many years, there was a major challenge that kept hindering this success. Even though India had been expanding its solar capacity consistently, it was still dependent upon imports of key solar components. Components like solar cells, modules and other critical equipment came from international markets.
This reliance exposed the country to the risks, including global supply chain disruptions, rising shipping costs, trade restrictions and geopolitical uncertainties. But today, that situation has transformed completely. Due to the strong support from the government and major investments from the private sector, India is building a resilient solar manufacturing ecosystem.
India’s solar manufacturing sector has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. According to a clean energy research firm, the country added an impressive 119 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity in a single year. This has led India’s total solar module manufacturing capacity to reach approximately 210 GW.
Considered as one of the industry’s major weaknesses, solar cell manufacturing is also seeing significant progress. There has been a time when many companies assembled solar modules in India but had to rely on imported solar cells. Today, domestic cell production is expanding rapidly.
This growth is supporting the country’s renewable energy ambitions. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has revealed India’s cumulative solar power capacity has crossed 157 GW. This enabled the country to rank among the global leaders in renewable energy deployment.
The fast growth of solar manufacturing has not happened by chance. It is the result of focused government policies designed to encourage domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.
One of the most important initiatives is the Approved Models and Manufacturers of Solar Photovoltaic Modules (ALMM) framework. The ALMM ensures that government-supported solar projects use approved and certified solar products that meet quality and performance standards. Today, the ALMM List-I includes more than 193 GW of approved module manufacturing capacity.
Additionally, the government has also introduced measures such as the Production Linked Incentive Scheme and Basic Customs Duty on imported solar equipment. These kinds of incentives have successfully encouraged companies to invest in the Indian manufacturing facilities. Eventually, it helped create a competitive domestic industry.
If local production is strengthened, then it also benefits the policies because of the project developers and consumers. The industry is now protected from currency fluctuations, global price volatility and supply shortages as there is reduced dependence on imports. The nation has a more stable and affordable solar power generation ecosystem right now.
When the conversation is about energy security, only large-scale power plants aren’t enough. Ensuring reliable access to energy for homes, farms and communities across the country should also be a priority. Domestic solar manufacturing is as important and plays a significant role in supporting government schemes like PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The scheme has encouraged rooftop solar adoption across urban India. It has already helped millions of households generate their own electricity and reduce expensive power bills.
Even in rural areas, schemes such as PM-KUSUM are helping farmers replace diesel-powered pumps with solar alternatives. Domestically manufactured solar equipment ensures these systems remain affordable, accessible and easier to maintain. It also reduces the risk of delays caused by international supply chain disruptions. This just proves how solar energy is being adopted across both urban and rural areas.
India’s solar manufacturing growth is creating opportunities even beyond its domestic market. The country is increasingly becoming an important supplier of solar products to international markets.
The domestic manufacturers have exported around 5 GW of solar modules and 192 MW of solar cells in 2025. The United States is one of the key export destinations. Indian manufacturers are also adopting advanced technologies such as Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact, also known as TOPCon, which accounts for nearly 70% of installed manufacturing capacity.
The country is consistently working towards its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030. And, solar manufacturing will keep playing a major role in helping make it achievable. The industry is supporting economic growth and job creation, while also focusing on building a self-reliant, secure and resilient future of energy for the country.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those held by pv magazine.
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