Waaree Energies has announced the groundbreaking of what it described as “India’s largest integrated solar ingot and wafer manufacturing facility” at Butibori in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The ceremony took place on 14 March and was attended by senior government leaders and industry representatives.
The project is a big step toward making India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem stronger. The new facility will be able to make 10 GW of solar ingots and wafers each. These are important raw materials for making solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. These parts are the building blocks of the solar value chain and are necessary for making solar cells and modules.
The ground-breaking ceremony was performed by Devendra Fadnavis, in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, along with other government officials and industry stakeholders.
Large-Scale Investment and Manufacturing Capacity
The facility will be built on a 300-acre site in Butibori with an investment of about ₹6,200 crore. Once it is finished, the plant will make high-purity solar ingots and wafers, which are the main building blocks for making solar photovoltaic cells.
The project aims to strengthen India’s solar supply chain by making it possible to make these important upstream parts in India. It should also make it less necessary to rely on materials that are brought in from other countries, which make up a big part of the global solar manufacturing ecosystem right now.
Industry experts believe such projects are important for ensuring greater supply chain stability and supporting the country’s long-term clean energy ambitions.
Boost for Clean Energy Manufacturing
The project is expected to generate more than 8,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, contributing to industrial development and skill creation in Maharashtra. It will also support economic growth in the Nagpur region by attracting related industries and strengthening the local manufacturing ecosystem.
Commenting on the development, Hitesh Doshi, Chairman and Managing Director of Waaree Energies, said:
“India’s clean energy transition will be powered not only by renewable deployment but also by building strong domestic manufacturing capabilities across the solar value chain. The ground-breaking of our integrated ingot and wafer facility in Nagpur marks an important step in strengthening India’s upstream solar manufacturing ecosystem. By developing large-scale domestic capacity for these critical components, we aim to contribute to India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, reduce import dependence and enhance the resilience of the country’s solar supply chain.”
Strengthening India’s Solar Ecosystem
Doshi also said that Nagpur’s strategic location, strong industrial ecosystem, and good transportation links to other parts of India make it a good place for such a big project. He also thanked the Maharashtra government for helping to make the project possible.
Waaree Energies currently operates manufacturing facilities with a global solar PV module capacity of around 22.3 GW and solar cell manufacturing capacity of up to 5.4 GW. The new ingot and wafer facility is expected to help the company grow even more in the solar manufacturing value chain. It will also help India become a major global hub for making renewable energy.
Electrify your feed! Click here to join our Whatsapp group and to get the latest updates, expert insights, and innovations driving India’s energy storage revolution.
