India targets complete domestic solar cell manufacturing by 2028

India has set a target to establish a full domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem by 2028.

The government’s two schemes, PM KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGY), highlight the country’s efforts towards the energy transition, supporting farmers and households, reducing emissions, and creating jobs.

During the State Review Meeting on Renewable Energy, India’s renewable energy minister Pralhad Joshi emphasised the development of domestic capacity for wafers and ingots to supplement existing module manufacturing.

Joshi highlighted the contributions of states in advancing renewable energy, which have propelled India past the halfway mark of its 2030 vision for 500GW of nonfossil capacity.

The country’s current capacity stands at 251.5GW.

Joshi drew attention to the apparent success of the PMSGY scheme, which has benefitted around two million households.

He urged both states and distribution companies to adhere to quality standards, finalise agreements promptly, and offer favourable tariff credits to consumers.

Joshi also announced that the second phase of the PM-KUSUM scheme will commence after the current phase concludes in March 2026. The scheme was launched in 2019 to promote solar energy in domestic agriculture.

Joshi said: “Timely action is the backbone of this system. If we keep delaying procurement on the expectation that tariffs will fall further, we are missing the bigger picture.”

The minister encouraged states to incorporate single-window clearances and to address issues faced by developers.

On the domestic manufacturing front, Joshi cited the success of the PLI Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules with an outlay of Rs240bn ($2.7bn).

Currently, India has 100GW of module manufacturing capacity, Rs500bn in investments, and over 12,600 direct jobs under the PLI Scheme.

Ministry of New & Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi emphasised the importance of India’s green energy transition for achieving net zero by 2070. These targets include 1,800GW in renewable capacity by 2047 and 5,000GW by 2070.

The review meeting served as a platform for states to present their progress and challenges in renewable energy deployment.

Industry associations and stakeholders also contributed to discussions on policy reforms and the design of PM-KUSUM 2.0, aiming to align actions and speed up India’s clean energy transition.