India's Solar Manufacturing Boom: 42 GW by 2026 and Beyond

India is set to scale up its domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing capacity from 27 GW to 42 GW by June 2026, aligning with the rapid expansion of PV module production across the country.

According to the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), the target is to further exceed 90 GW in cell manufacturing capacity by Q1 FY27, keeping pace with the growth in module capacity, which currently stands at 92 GW and is expected to reach 125 GW by 2030. The government attributes this accelerated growth to the success of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and plans to apply similar strategies to boost domestic cell manufacturing.

To enhance quality and transparency in the supply chain, MNRE will publish the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) for solar cells by mid-August 2025, with mandatory compliance beginning September 1, 2025. From that date, all new bids must source PV cells from ALMM-listed manufacturers. Further, starting June 1, 2026, both government and private sector projects will be required to use domestically manufactured solar cells.

Long-term capacity targets beyond 2030 will be determined after June 2026, based on market trends and the evolving demand landscape.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.