From Our Correspondent
Amaravati: Solar equipment manufacturer Premier Energies has significantly expanded its proposed manufacturing project in Andhra Pradesh by doubling the planned production capacity for solar ingots and wafers at its upcoming facility in Naidupeta.
The company has secured 200 acres of land from the Andhra Pradesh government at the Naidupeta Industrial Park and announced a ₹6,000 crore investment to build an integrated solar manufacturing complex.
Capacity doubled
Premier Energies has revised its original plans and will now establish annual production capacity of:
- 10 GW of solar ingots
- 10 GW of solar wafers
The earlier proposal was for 5 GW each, making the new project twice the originally planned size.
The company said all necessary approvals from the Andhra Pradesh government have been obtained, and construction work is expected to begin shortly.
Strengthening India’s solar supply chain
The expansion is part of Premier Energies’ strategy to become a fully integrated solar manufacturer, producing key raw materials required for solar panels within India.
Currently, many Indian solar manufacturers depend heavily on imported ingots and wafers, particularly from China. Once the Naidupeta plant becomes operational, Premier Energies will manufacture these components domestically, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening its supply chain.
Driven by new government policy
The investment comes ahead of a major policy change by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
From June 1, 2028, all solar ingots and wafers used in domestic, government-supported and open-access solar projects must be manufactured in India under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-III regulations.
The new rule is expected to encourage large investments in upstream solar manufacturing across the country.
Boost for Andhra Pradesh
The project is expected to further strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s position as an emerging manufacturing hub for renewable energy and advanced industries.
Naidupeta, located about 45 minutes from Tirupati, has been attracting investments due to its proximity to Sri City, Chennai and major transport corridors.
The Premier Energies project is also expected to generate employment and support the development of a local ecosystem for India’s growing solar manufacturing industry.