Indian solar manufacturing dead in six months without trade duties, says Tata

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

India’s domestic solar manufacturing sector will collapse by the end of the year unless the government adopts the recommended anti-dumping duties, according to the CEO of Tata Power Solar.

Speaking at Intersolar Europe last week, Ajay K Goel said action was needed now to ensure the sector’s near-term future.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“The reality is that in the last three years there has been so much overcapacity and so much dumping that if we do not take dramatic action now, then within six months the Indian manufacturing industry will be dead,” he told PV Tech.

“They are already in fairly bad shape. People have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in equipment and facilities and that are now just sitting idle. It’s a shame.”

Recommended duties of US$0.11 to US$0.81/W have been tabled with the finance ministry given a deadline of 22 August to decide whether or not to impose them.

Project developers in the country fear that the resultant increase in costs will mean delay projects and stall the country’s solar rollout.

But Goel, whose company is both a module manufacturer and a project developer, believes the industry needs to accept “some pain” in order to guarantee its longer term future.

“[Anti-] dumping is a short-term solution. The government has to provide a level playing field and allow the Indian manufacturers to grow,” he said. “Anti-dumping [measures are] a means to an end, after a while once the industry gets on its own two feet and reaches a certain scale, then those duties can be scaled back.”

Goel also revealed that the company plans to use its own modules for its projects if anti-dumping is adopted. It currently buys Chinese panels for use in India and exports its own the US and Europe market where trade duties against Chinese products are already in place.

Read Next

September 18, 2025
CERC is finalising guidelines for virtual power purchase agreements (vPPAs) to unlock financing for over 40GW of uncontracted renewable capacity.
September 18, 2025
The capacity of virtual power plants in operation in North America has reached 37.5GW, a 13.7% year-on-year growth, according to Wood Mackenzie.
September 18, 2025
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) has forecast that Canada will add between 17GW and 26GW of solar PV over the next decade.
September 18, 2025
Researchers have called for enhanced international standards to detect ultraviolet-induced degradation (UVID) in PV modules after identifying “severe” levels of the problem in operational n-type panels.             
September 18, 2025
Indian PV makers have welcomed the government’s plan to add solar wafers to its ALMM List-III from June 2028.
September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA