In a significant push towards strengthening India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem and reducing reliance on imports, SAEL Industries has announced a massive investment of ₹8,200 crore to establish an integrated solar manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The landmark announcement marks one of the largest solar manufacturing investments in the country, aligning with India’s Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and Energy Transition goals.
The state-of-the-art facility, to be developed under the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region, will house 5 GW solar cell manufacturing capacity and 5 GW solar module assembly—creating a combined production capability of 10 GW. The project is scheduled to begin construction later this year, with production expected to start before the government-imposed deadline of June 2026, which mandates the use of domestically manufactured solar cells for public projects.
The investment is strategically important as India aims to transition from being a major importer of solar modules and cells—primarily from China—to becoming self-sufficient in clean energy manufacturing. SAEL’s new facility will significantly reduce the country’s dependency on foreign imports while boosting domestic innovation and employment in the clean tech sector.
The facility will produce TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) solar cells—considered one of the most efficient technologies currently available in commercial photovoltaic markets. These high-efficiency cells will then be integrated into solar panels, allowing SAEL to exercise complete backward integration, from manufacturing to installation. This development strengthens the company’s vertical integration strategy and adds to its existing solar capabilities.
Currently, SAEL operates a 6.7 GW solar IPP (Independent Power Producer) portfolio, and the addition of this manufacturing plant will push its module production capacity to 8.5 GW. According to company officials, the solar manufacturing plant is expected to not only cater to the firm’s internal power projects but also supply to external developers and EPC players under India’s fast-growing solar demand.
Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, welcomed the investment and lauded SAEL’s commitment to clean energy and self-reliant manufacturing. “This is a proud moment for Uttar Pradesh. The solar manufacturing plant by SAEL will not only accelerate the renewable energy transition but also create thousands of jobs, stimulate the local economy, and position UP as a solar manufacturing hub for India,” he said.
The plant is expected to generate significant employment opportunities during both construction and operation phases, benefiting local talent in engineering, manufacturing, and service segments.
SAEL has been rapidly expanding its renewable portfolio and plans to reach 18–20 GW of generation capacity by 2030. It has also attracted substantial investor confidence, having raised over $2.4 billion in funding, including a $305 million green bond issuance. The company is currently in the process of preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO), which is expected to boost its capital reserves and fuel further clean energy expansion.
The decision to locate this facility in Greater Noida comes amid a growing demand for solar power in both rural and urban India. With government-backed schemes such as PM Surya Ghar Yojana and increasing rooftop and utility-scale project deployments, the demand for cost-efficient, domestically manufactured modules is set to surge.
This ambitious project by SAEL will play a vital role in making India not only a leader in solar power generation but also a global manufacturing hub for solar components. As the country chases its renewable energy targets of 500 GW by 2030, initiatives like these represent the building blocks of a sustainable and self-sufficient energy future.
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