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Jupiter International Targets 8.5 GW Solar Cell Capacity By April 2027 Photograph: (AI)
Jupiter International is targeting an expansion of its solar cell manufacturing capacity to 8.5 GW by April 2027, backed by a 3 GW TOPCon cell manufacturing facility under construction in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The company expects the new facility to begin commercial production in February–March 2027, with full-scale production targeted by the end of the following quarter, according to Dhruv Sharma, CEO, Jupiter International.
In an interview with Saur Energy International, Sharma said the company currently has 4.5 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity, comprising approximately 3.25 GW of monocrystalline PERC (Mono PERC) capacity and 1.3 GW of TOPCon capacity. The upcoming 3 GW TOPCon facility will significantly increase its manufacturing footprint, taking the company’s planned capacity to 8.5 GW by April 2027.
Sharma attributed Jupiter’s expansion capabilities to its experience in setting up and operating solar cell manufacturing facilities. Since entering the industry in 2009, the company has expanded from an initial annual manufacturing capacity of 45 MW to its current gigawatt-scale operations. According to Sharma, Jupiter has gained experience from setting up six end-to-end solar cell manufacturing facilities, giving it an execution advantage over newer entrants in the sector.
“The emphasis is not on setting up a factory. The emphasis is on setting up an organisation,” Sharma said, highlighting the importance of developing manufacturing processes, operational teams and systems capable of running facilities efficiently.
He added that while engineering teams and external consultants can help establish manufacturing plants, building an organisation that can operate them optimally and maintain competitive production costs remains a more complex challenge.
The upcoming Nagpur facility is central to Jupiter’s capacity expansion strategy. Sharma said the project is progressing as planned, with commercial production expected in February–March 2027. Alongside cell manufacturing, Jupiter is also initiating a 1.5 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing project. The company intends to use this initial capacity to establish a proof of concept, understand the business and gain operational experience before scaling up the facility.
Sharma said Jupiter plans to assess the performance of the ingot and wafer project by the middle or end of next year before expanding it to match the company’s solar cell manufacturing capacity.
The move indicates the company’s interest in strengthening backward integration and developing greater control over its manufacturing value chain.
On the technology front, Sharma expects Mono PERC and TOPCon technologies to coexist in the market for some time, although he anticipates that Mono PERC will gradually give way to newer-generation TOPCon technology by the end of 2027 or 2028.
He described Mono PERC as an important stepping stone for Jupiter, helping the company develop familiarity with manufacturing processes and engineering requirements before transitioning to TOPCon.
The company also sees the shift towards larger wafer formats, particularly G12R, as an important development in solar cell manufacturing.
Sharma noted that most new manufacturing equipment entering India for G12R-based production is designed to support the larger wafer format. According to him, G12R offers higher power density within a given wafer area, making it a more cost-effective and efficient option for manufacturing.
He also pointed to China’s transition away from M10 wafers towards G12R as an indication of the direction in which the industry is moving.
Commenting on the growing number of companies entering India’s solar manufacturing sector, Sharma acknowledged that the industry would attract significant capital because of its expansion potential. However, he described solar cell manufacturing as a complex, technology-intensive business that requires more than capital investment and factory infrastructure.
He said Jupiter welcomes competition, arguing that it would encourage established manufacturers to improve operational efficiency and raise their technological capabilities.
Sharma also expects global demand for renewable energy, particularly solar power, to expand aggressively. Referring to geopolitical disruptions, including the Hormuz and Red Sea crises, he said these developments have reinforced the importance of energy security and the need for countries to accelerate their transition towards renewable energy. “Our belief is very clearly that renewable energy, and more so solar energy, is infinite, and the demand for it is going to really expand very aggressively in times to come,” he said.
Watch the full video interview of Mr Dhruv Sharma here:
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