Navitas Solar plans 3.6 GW PV cell factory, pilot wafer-ingot production in India

Navitas Solar, an India-based PV module manufacturer, has announced plans to invest around INR 1,500 crore ($181.1 million)in a 3.6 GW solar cell manufacturing facility and a pilot wafer and ingot production line in Gujarat, as part of its backward integration strategy.

The project will be implemented in phases, with the first phase scheduled for commissioning in 2027. Further capacity additions are planned thereafter, subject to market conditions and project readiness.

Civil works covering more than 92,200 m2 are currently underway. The company said it has secured a technology tie-up for the planned manufacturing line and appointed senior leadership to oversee the new business vertical. It is also strengthening its project execution, manufacturing, technology and quality functions to support the expansion.

According to Navitas Solar, the cell manufacturing facility is being designed as a highly automated, future-ready production platform capable of supporting next-generation solar technologies. The line will be built with upgradeability and flexibility to accommodate evolving cell architectures, subject to technology and market readiness.

The company also plans to establish a pilot wafer and ingot manufacturing line in 2027 as part of its long-term backward integration roadmap. The initiative is expected to strengthen in-house capabilities, improve technology understanding and support future localisation requirements across the solar value chain.

Navitas Solar’s proposed 3.6 GW cell facility aligns with the Indian government’s implementation of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II framework for solar PV cells, which is expected to significantly increase demand for domestically manufactured cells.

The company estimates the project will generate around 1,000 direct jobs across manufacturing, engineering, operations, project execution, quality assurance and R&D, along with additional indirect employment in logistics, ancillary industries and support services.

Navitas Solar currently has 3 GW of annual solar module manufacturing capacity and offers a portfolio of mono PERC and high-efficiency TOPCon modules ranging from 40 W to 720 W. It also has upstream integration through its subsidiary Navitas Alpha Renewables, which manufactures solar encapsulants.