Tata Power Commences Indigenous Manufacture of Solar Cells

TP Solar Ltd., a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd. (TPREL), has begun producing solar cells at India’s largest single-location plant in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. This move is set to bolster domestic manufacturing of solar cells and modules, further supporting India’s clean energy goals and reducing reliance on imports.

The company, which had earlier started producing solar modules at the same facility, currently has a solar cell production capacity of 2 GW, with plans to ramp up to 4 GW in the coming weeks. The Tirunelveli plant’s total capacity for both cells and modules is 4.3 GW, with 1,250 MW of solar modules already produced since the commissioning of the module line in October 2023.

Dr. Praveer Sinha, CEO and MD of Tata Power, emphasized the significance of this development in supporting India's push for self-reliance in solar energy production and achieving a Net-Zero carbon future. The Rs 4,300 crore investment in the facility underscores Tata Power’s commitment to renewable energy. Initially, the solar cells and modules from the plant will supply Tata Power’s ongoing projects, strengthening its supply chain.

In addition to the Tirunelveli plant, Tata Power operates another manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka, which has a capacity of 682 MW for solar modules and 530 MW for solar cells. This facility has so far supplied 3.73 GW of solar modules and 2.26 GW of solar cells.