A few days ago, Indian energy group Jakson Group announced that it will invest $240 million to build a 2.5GW solar cell manufacturing plant in India, and it also plans to expand its module production capacity to 2GW.

The factory will produce high-efficiency n-type TOPCon solar cells, which have become the main route of choice for major photovoltaic companies over the past year, gradually forming the mainstream of large-scale manufacturing. The plant will be built in two phases, with the first phase expected to be completed within the next 15 months and a completion date set for December 2025, Jakson Group said.

Meanwhile, the module production plant's capacity will be fully expanded to 2GW within the next six months. Currently, the plant has a nominal capacity of 1.2GW.Jakson Group did not disclose the location of the new cell production plant.

By strengthening the Jakson Group's “backward integration capabilities,” the company will not only ensure a stronger supply chain, but also provide greater value to its customers, said Sundeep Gupta, vice president and executive director of the company.

Jakson Group said that India's current domestic solar cell production capacity is around 7GW, and that its new plant “will help bridge the gap between imports and domestic production”. It's a step toward realizing “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat,” a phrase used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his economic development plans to mean “self-reliance. Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” is a phrase used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his economic development plans, meaning ‘self-reliant India’.

Until recently, India has struggled with a shortage of solar energy supply, and it has sought to stimulate the domestic industry by implementing measures including government incentives and import restrictions.

The Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), which effectively restricts some of the overseas-produced solar products available to the Indian solar industry, designates products that can benefit from government subsidies.

Meanwhile, the government has imposed Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on imports of solar cells and modules, 40% on modules and 25% on cells. The BCD and ALMM conditions are understood to be too restrictive, leading to supply shortages.

So far this year, solar projects in India are mostly back on track, Mercom Capital says, thanks in part to the relaxation of the ALMM and an increase in available land.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/nE354JJnnPh92w8pvKGsWw