Make In India - The Renewable Energy Race Is On!

India is rapidly emerging as a preferred country for foreign investments in the manufacturing sector.

Renewable energy in the United States may have hit a setback with the current administration enacting regressive policies that target advanced climate change initiatives and innovation efforts, choking the supply chains of the global economy, and removing widespread reliable scientific studies about environmental, cultural, and historical events. But that doesn't mean the rest of the world has given up on self-reliance and renewable energy. 

Although Coal, Oil, Gas, and Nuclear energy system development have all grown from an aging infrastructure that can be dangerous, much of the opportunities around these industries are already occupied by billion-dollar businesses with extreme leverage and network exposure. Competing with these organizations becomes increasingly difficult with the introduction of media control and political exposure. Gaining notoriety and building new, and potentially industry disrupting technologies, is a process that requires dedication and long term commitment to growth. Otherwise, public exposure remains limited. 

Solar power has integrated with many industries to create localized impacts across nations. Although mining for heavy metals and limited supply chains causes concerns across the globe, global circumstances, climate change, and the vast human suffering occurring around the world requires the pursuit of all viable solutions. Solar is more than viable, and offers a new path forward towards energy independence. Although there are pros and cons to solar panels and the application of solar technology continues to grow and address them, wide adaptations have created new challenges and opportunities in new markets around the world.

Alternative energies like solar, wind, tidal, and nuclear have the capacity to solve some of these significant world problems, but may come at the direct reduction of profitability for other industries. This causes conflict and creates a power struggle between the established rich and organized oil and gas business, versus the emerging, small, and smart renewable energy business.

While working hand-in-hand to create a sustainable future would be the ideal method for achieving growth, it doesn’t always work that way. 

Access to education and clean water could be solved if renewable, portable, and cost effective energy devices were deployed to the most impoverished places. 

Access to healthy food for those who live in food deserts could be accessed if energy and “climate control” systems were developed to scale from very small to very large systems. 

Healthcare and economic strength could be correlated with increased energy independence and localized control over clean air, water, and access to electricity. With these resources that are often considered “basic human needs” in the United States, millions of individuals could be lifted out of poverty and could boost the economy of the world by leading to global growth. 

This perspective has been stimulated through one submission made by a reader who discusses northern India, and the approach they are taking to boost solar energy availability and production in one of the nation's most populated places. 

This contributed perspective, included below, shows that innovation and sustainability go hand-in-hand. 

Uttar Pradesh (UP) is at the forefront of India’s renewable energy industry with robust developments by Avaada Group, inaugurating its 1.5 GW Solar Module Manufacturing Gigafactory in Noida and the foundation for Avaada Electro’s 5 GW Integrated Solar Manufacturing Unit at Ecotech, Greater Noida. These groundbreaking initiatives place UP at the forefront of green energy and industrial growth, which is aligned with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India movements.

This initiative underlines the importance and need for countries to build supportive and sustainable business infrastructure across manufacturing and service sectors seen below.

Manufacturing Sectors

1. Aerospace and Defence

2. Automotive and Auto Components

3. Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices

4. Bio-Technology

5. Capital Goods

6. Textile and Apparels

7. Chemicals and Petro chemicals

8. Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM)

9. Leather & Footwear

10. Food Processing

11. Gems and Jewellery

12. Shipping

13. Railways

14. Construction

15. New and Renewable Energy

Service Sectors

1. Information Technology & Information Technology enabled Services (IT &ITeS)

2. Tourism and Hospitality Services

3. Medical Value Travel

4. Transport and Logistics Services

5. Accounting and Finance Services

6. Audio Visual Services

7. Legal Services

8. Communication Services

9. Construction and Related Engineering Services

10. Environmental Services

11. Financial Services

12. Education Services

Transforming UP into a Clean Energy Hub

With the increased interest in renewable energy, the Uttar Pradesh government took the lead in boosting the generation of solar power. The state aims at a capacity of 22,000 MW of solar power, and this will form a substantial share of India’s overall renewable power capacity. Besides reducing the carbon footprint, these actions are also enhancing energy security, creating employment, and attracting investment from major Indian solar players.

Avaada Groups Solar Innovation Commitment

Avaada Group is driving innovation through its 1.5 GW PV Module Manufacturing Plant at Dadri. Expertise in TOPCon N-Type bifacial glass-to-glass PV modules with the latest multi-bus bar structures (16 to 24 bus bars) for high module efficiency. With the capability to produce M10 as well as G12 cell modules, the factory has a staggering 1.2 GW annual capacity for M10 modules and 1.5 GW for G12 modules, manufacturing 5,800 high-grade solar panels per day.

Top 10 States in India for Solar Installation Capacity

The establishment of this Indian solar manufacturing company is a major step towards

self-sufficiency in renewable energy production. Built in record time, the first phase of the

gigafactory was commissioned in just 3.5 months, with fully commissioned module

manufacturing lines and utility plants. This milestone places Avaada Group among the

top 10 solar EPC companies in India, which speaks volumes about its focus on green

energy solutions.

5 GW Integrated Solar Manufacturing Plant: A Game Changer

Avaada Electro’s upcoming 5 GW Integrated Solar Manufacturing Complex in Greater

Noida will be a game-changer in India’s solar industry. Spanning over 50 acres in

Ecotech-16, this world-class facility will produce high-efficiency TOPCon N-Type solar

cells on a mass scale. The project, with a huge investment, is expected to generate over

3,000 jobs while attaining international certifications such as BIS, IEC, and UL to

maintain global quality standards.

This initiative makes India an even more powerful leader internationally in solar projects

in India. By promoting domestic manufacturing, the Avaada Group is ensuring that India

moves closer to achieving its ambitious renewable energy goals while reducing reliance

on imported solar panels.

Driving Economic Growth and Sustainability through Renewable Energy

Avaada Group’s expansion is in accordance with India’s overall vision of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030. The growth trajectory of the group has been supported by a $1.3 billion investment in 2023 from Brookfield’s Energy Transition Fund and GPSC (a PTT Group, Thailand subsidiary). This massive financial support will enable Avaada’s solar and green hydrogen business to scale up to become one of the top solar companies in India.

With Uttar Pradesh transforming into a renewable energy hub and a solar manufacturing center, the state is attracting investment from a host of Indian solar energy companies. This is all noteworthy development in accelerating the nation’s transition towards new-age energy, reducing carbon prints, and providing clean energy.

Growth and application of ambitious solar initiatives as well as other renewable energy ventures shall continue to make communities more sustainable. Setting and achieving benchmarks for the renewable energy sector will become key factors in economic growth and development. As cutting-edge technology, rapid project implementation, and projects with a deep emphasis on sustainability become more attainable, the nations all around the world are paving the way for a greener and cleaner tomorrow. With increasing solar projects being initiated in India, efforts will go a long way in shaping the country’s energy landscape, reducing carbon footprints, and ensuring energy security in the long term.

Supporting and encouraging initiatives that the government can implement are critical actions to make sustainability more tangible and real to the average person. In terms of renewable energy, the race is on! India may well reach its vision of becoming a world leader in solar power with the help of innovative people, applied technologies, and renewable energy. Every step counts!

Thanks for reading!