In general Solar Panels are Silicon made with Rectangular Shaped Glass Covered Products which Produce Electricity when exposed to the Sun. The function is to produce Direct Current (DC) Electricity which has to be converted by a Solar Inverter to Alternating Current (AC) Electricity to be used by Customers.
In India there is abundant availability of solar energy and immense potential for solar panl manufacturers in India. But still market found that the industry is still immature and interconnections are not given to ordinary consumers in general. So you can use an Energy Storage Device to store Electricity.
However Energy Storage Products like Chemical Batteries are quite expensive. Solar Panel produced Electricity usually costs between Rs 15-18 /KwH (much higher than the Rs 3-6/unit paid normally) which makes it uneconomical except in special cases like off grid applications. Replacing expensive Diesel powered Telecom Towers with Solar Panels is also an option. Sharply falling Solar Panel costs should make it competitive with your electricity in 2-3 years. In places like Italy, Solar Electricity is already competitive due to high prices of electricity.
Solar Energy in India
Solar is one of the largest opportunity in energy sector in India. JNNSM (Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission) – The Indian Government initiative has planned huge subsidy scheme through this mission. While currently the Support is mainly targeted towards big commercial plants, its only a matter of time before distributed residential systems become widespread. Some states like Gujarat and Rajasthan are also independently supporting solar energy through
The cost of solar panel
The cost of solar panel is the one of the most important selection criterion for manufacturers. And the cost differs widely depending on the technology, power, brand and quality point of view. In general the cost Thin Film Panels lower than crystalline silicon panels. Larger Power Panels have a higher value as they generate more electricity. Recognized and good Brands also have a higher price comparatively while cheap imported Chinese panels cost less. There is gradual decrease in the cost of Solar by almost 50% in the last 2-3 years and now average cost for around Rs 1800-2500 ($400-$550) per panel internationally and should fall to around Rs 1000 in the next 3-4 years. Considering for small installations, panels can only be bought from distributors which is more expensive and can cost you almost 50% more. Solar Panels form only a part of the total Solar System Cost. The total cost of installation, equipment and wiring can cost upto Rs 300,000($6500)/Kilowatt.
Companies making Solar Panels in India
There are a number of Companies manufacturing Solar Panels in India and the domestic content requirements of JNNSM will give a further impetus to indigenous solar production in India. While upstream solar products like polysilicon and wafers are made outside of India, downstream solar products like cells and modules are made by some companies in India. Most of the solar panels made in India is done through mainstream crystalline silicon manufacturing while a very small amount of production by Moser Baer is done through Thin Film amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Technology. The costs of the Indian manufacturers are higher than integrated Chinese companies like Trina Solar, LDK which make raw materials in-house. Due to low costs of transportation it might be cheaper for consumers to import solar panels from outside of India.
Solar Panel Companies
1. Tata BP Solar
Tata BP Solar is a Joint Venture between Tata Power Company and BP Solar. This Tata Company has one of the biggest and oldest solar panel manufacturing operations in the country. The company’s 84 MW Solar Cell manufacturing facility is capable of processing mono and multi crystalline wafers of 125mm2 and 156mm2. The company’s 125 MW module manufacturing facility is one of the largest in Asia. Their products include customized solar illumination solutions. Tata BP Solar is perhaps the best solar lighting provider in India given the brandname and inhouse manufacturing of solar components.It has a range of Solar Lighting Solutions based on LED and non LED lights. The company has huge plans in wind,solar and geothermal energy
2. Moser Baer
Moser Baer – is one of India’s leading technology companies, established in 1983. Moser Baer’s flagship company, Moser Baer India Limited (MBIL) is the world’s second largest manufacturer of optical storage media. Moser Baer Solar Limited is a subsidiary of MBIL. The Group’s photovoltaic manufacturing business was established between 2005 and 2007 with the primary objective of providing solar power as competitive & reliable source of energy. Its products include Multicrystalline cells & modules and Thin Film modules. This is primarily a Solar Panel Production Company which has recently made a big bet to get into the Power Production Space as well. Moser Baer Projects Private in which the Blackstone Group made a $300 million bet has plans of a 20:80 mix of Green and Dirty Power.
3. Solar Semiconductor
It is an international organization that offers PV solutions, products and services to worldwide markets including the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. It manufactures its own PV modules and cells. Solar Semiconductor currently has a 195 MW manufacturing capacity and various Systems Integration projects around the world. It offers a comprehensive range of products including complete system kits and PV modules for grid connected as well off-grid applications. A Producer of Solar Power Modules and Cells, it renders services in Solar Installation as well. It also has a small capacity to produce silicon based solar cells or solar panels or both.
4. IndoSolar
IndoSolar – is the leading Indian manufacturer of solar photovoltaic cells. Its manufacturing capacity is 360 MWp. The company has capacity to produce both multi and mono crystalline cells.
5. Topsun Solar
It is one of the leading solar power solution manufacturers in India & International market. The company has vast experience in Renewable specific to SPV technology & solutions. The Company’s strongest areas are solar Telecom power system, KW to MW SPV Power Plant, Village electrification & Home lighting system. Its manufacturing unit is established with latest technology with their own R&D facilities for future development in solar solutions.
6. Titan Energy
It is a major competitor in the distributed, renewable, and alternative energy industries and a leader in development and support for new energy-related technology.
7. PLG Power
It is a vertically integrated company operating in the PV sector since 2008. The company is a part of a big, well-established Indian Group, PLG Group, which is almost 100 years old company diversified into numerous businesses in Asia and Middle-East.
8. Maharishi Solar
It has a vertically Integrated manufacturing facility to produce multi-crystalline silicon ingots, Multi Crystalline wafers, Multi/Mono Solar cells, SPV modules and SPV systems in Andhra Pradesh. Maharishi Solar also designs, engineers and manufactures a wide range of Solar Panels, Solar Water Heaters, Solar Air Conditioning Systems, Swimming Pool Heating etc. for various Residential, Commercial & Industrial projects.
9. Kotak Urja Pvt. Ltd.
It is one of the pioneering companies in India dedicated to the promotion of eco-friendly and environmentally safe renewable energy technologies. The company has forayed into solar PV technologies by establishing at that time an advanced PV module manufacturing facility. Over the years, Kotak Urja has developed expertise in Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Integration & Installation of a broad range of solar thermal & solar photovoltaic systems and aspires to achieve a dominant position in the growing PV market in both India & globally.
10. Photon Energy Systems
It established in 1995, is a leading manufacturer of Solar PV Modules, PV Systems and Solar Thermal Systems in India.
11. SiriTechnoFab
It is one of the leading Company from Bangalore in Solar electrification and water pumping solutions in very cost effective rates. They supply Only high quality products, Solar Panels:- German Made (Bosh or Q cell) , PCUs with MPPT controller ( Only MNRE approved and Compatible European Standards) , Batteries:- Supply only C10grade solar batteries in VLRS, Gell, Lead acid, Sealed Lead acid models .www.siritech.net
Note there are some other solar module producers as well. Note most of these companies import solar cells which are the main technology differentiators as there is very little addition in solar module production part of the supply chain.
