en.Wedoany.com Reported - Navitas Solar plans to invest approximately INR 15 billion in Gujarat, India, to build a 3.6 GW solar cell manufacturing plant, along with a pilot wafer and ingot production line. The project, located at the company's campus in Ankleshwar, aims to deepen backward integration and reduce dependence on imported solar components. This investment marks Navitas Solar's entry into solar cell manufacturing to strengthen its position in the solar value chain.

This expansion comes as India's solar industry faces stricter localization requirements, which are expected to extend from modules and cells to upstream components such as wafers and ingots. By investing in domestic manufacturing capacity, Navitas Solar aims to align with future policy developments and support India's goal of building a self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem. Vineet Mittal, Director of Finance and Strategy at Navitas Solar, stated that the new solar cell manufacturing plant and the pilot wafer-ingot production line will be developed at the Ankleshwar facility, with a total investment of approximately INR 15 billion.

Of the proposed investment, approximately INR 14 billion will be allocated to building the 3.6 GW solar cell manufacturing plant, with the remaining INR 1 billion used for the pilot wafer and ingot production line. The solar cell plant is expected to significantly enhance the company's manufacturing capabilities and provide better control over key components in the solar supply chain.

Navitas Solar currently operates manufacturing facilities in Gujarat with a total solar module capacity of 3 GW. Its manufacturing footprint includes a 0.5 GW module plant in Surat (operational for over 11 years) and a 2.5 GW module manufacturing plant in Ankleshwar, which commenced operations last year. According to the company, the Ankleshwar plant is currently operating at an annual capacity utilization rate of approximately 65–70%, reflecting strong demand for its products.

In addition to expanding into solar cell production, Navitas Solar is investing in a pilot wafer and ingot production line to develop technical expertise in upstream solar manufacturing. Mittal explained that the pilot project is intended as a learning platform to help the company build capabilities in one of the most technically complex areas of the solar value chain. He stated: "The pilot wafer and ingot production line is essentially a learning curve for us. Manufacturing ingots is highly technical and complex. We want to build capabilities in advance and prepare for the proposed localization requirements for upstream solar manufacturing."

This planned investment underscores Navitas Solar's commitment to supporting India's renewable energy goals while creating a more integrated domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem. By expanding into solar cells and developing expertise in wafer and ingot production, the company aims to capture a larger share of the solar value chain, enhance supply chain resilience, and reduce dependence on imports.

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