Gautam Solar has more than doubled its annual solar panel manufacturing capacity from 120 mw to 250 mw, at its Haridwar plant in Uttarakhand.
This, according to a statement by Gautam Solar, has made the company the third largest solar manufacturer in north India.
In a brief interaction with T&D India, Gautam Mohanka, Managing Director, Gautam Solar, noted that the capacity expansion was carried out to accommodate the rising demand for solar energy in India. Mohanka explained that Gautam Solar has four manufacturing facilities—all located at Haridwar in Uttarakhand. These four facilities are respectively dedicated to solar panels, batteries, electronics and structures. “If things go according to plan, we will soon increase the production capacities at our other facilities as well,” Mohanka added.
A release from Gautam Solar noted that it was imperative to raise local production and reduce imports from countries like China. Once the solar demand is met, India can venture into the global solar market, which would give a liquidity boost to the country, the release added.
Self-reliance
As an organization, Gautam Solar has always stayed focused on manufacturing in-house and being self-reliant. Its philosophy aligns very well with the government’s decision to incentivize solar production in the country, the release from Gautam Solar said.
Government boost
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme in India is also working on the same objective as it is expected to add 10,000 mw of integrated solar PV manufacturing capacity and bring direct investments of about Rs.17,200 crore. Market experts are predicting that close to 30,000 jobs will also be created in the process.
Prior to announcing the new PLI scheme, the Indian government had already imposed 40 per cent basic customs duty on solar modules and 25 per cent on solar cells, effective April 1, 2022.
(Featured photograph shows a collage of various dedicated manufacturing facilities of Gautam Solar, all located at Haridwar in Uttarakhand.)