Silicon Coal Prices Unlikely to Increase

India added 119 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity and over 9 GW of cell capacity in 2025, bringing cumulative totals to 210 GW and 27 GW, respectively. According to a new report from Mercom India, this massive expansion was driven by a robust utility-scale pipeline, the 'PM Surya Ghar' residential rooftop program, and the domestic cell mandate under 'ALMM List II'. With declining demand for mono PERC and rising capital requirements shifting market share toward larger, more efficient manufacturers. On the trade front, India imported 99 GW of solar modules and cells in 2025 (which solar cells accounts for 75%), while domestic players exported around 5 GW of modules, predominantly to the US, and 192 MW of cells, mostly to the UAE.

National Aluminium Company (NALCO) reported that its 130 kWp rooftop solar project in the Damanjodi mining area had officially commenced operations. Meanwhile, the smelter's 960 electrolytic cells continued to operate at full capacity, with an annual operating scale of approximately 460,000 mt. At present, NALCO is expected to add 500,000-600,000 mt of aluminum capacity. The project is currently in the feasibility study and environmental impact assessment (EIA) stage; however, its progress is constrained by the construction schedule of the power plant.

RenewSys India has inaugurated a 3 GW 'AI-powered', fully automated solar module manufacturing facility in Khopoli, Maharashtra, expanding its total module capacity to 5.6 GW. The 65,000 sqm plant integrates advanced production technologies and digital monitoring systems to ensure consistent product quality for its 'TOPCon G12R' modules. Located near Mumbai, the site offers strong multimodal connectivity to enhance supply chain efficiency for both domestic and export markets. Looking ahead, RenewSys targets 24 GW of total PV component capacity and plans to install a 4.5 GW solar cell production line by fiscal year 2026-27.