Page 138 - CW E-Magazine (8-4-2025)

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RENEWABLE ENERGY

Waaree Energies inaugurates solar cell factory

in Gujarat

Waaree Energies has inaugurated
“India’s largest” solar cell manufac-
turing unit – with 5.4-GW capacity –
at Chikhli in South Gujarat that can
churn out 20 solar cells every second.
The Rs. 2,500-crore solar cell unit was
inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister
Bhupendra Patel in presence of Union
Minister of New and Renewable Energy
Mr. Pralhad Joshi and other leaders.

“This is our fi rst solar cell project sion rates. Higher effi ciency translates unit in Odisha with an investment of
which will have a capacity of 5.4-GW. to generation of more power from the Rs. 9,000-crore.
We are using the latest and advanced same surface area of solar panels.
TOPCon technology (which stands for Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Joshi
Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact),” The new solar cell unit at Chikhli said India’s solar PV module manufac-
said Mr. Hitesh Doshi, CMD of Waaree can also manufacture Mono PERC solar turing capacity will increase to 125-GW
Energies. power cells. by 2030 from the current 80-GW, and
its installed solar cell manufacturing
“While building this plant, we The facility is spread across 150 capacity will soon touch 40-GW from
asked ourselves if we can make the acres and has a built-up area of 101 25-GW at present. India has emerged
most effi cient solar cells in India. At acres. In January 2025, the company as the world’s third largest producer of
this unit, we have managed to achieve had announced the commencement of renewable energy, and will achieve the
an effi ciency of 25 percent,” he added. trial production at the Chikhli facility. target of 500-GW of renewable energy
The TOPCon solar cells have a unique Mr. Doshi said the company has capacity by 2030 from 220-GW
structure that utilises a thin oxide layer already invested Rs. 3,000-crore in the currently, the minister added. The
and a poly-crystalline silicon layer campus at Chikhli, which is one of the world’s largest bid for green ammonia
to create a highly effi cient passivated four manufacturing plants in India. The was brought out by India, and 50 per-
contact. This design of the solar cells others are Surat, Nandigram and Noida. cent export order has been booked for
allows improved charge carrier extrac- Waaree Energies is also building a electrolyser and green hydrogen manu-
tion, resulting in higher energy conver- 6-GW wafer-to-module manufacturing facturing, Mr. Joshi pointed out.

Coal India sets up coal-to-synthetic natural gas

subsidiary

State-owned Coal India Ltd. (CIL) The company will carry on in structure facilities, CIL said in a regu-
has announced the incorporation India or in any part of the world all kinds latory fi ling. Last year, a joint venture
of subsidiary Coal Gas India Ltd. to of business relating to manufactur- agreement was signed between Coal
set up coal-to-synthetic natural gas ing of SNG, all types of organic and India Ltd. and GAIL to set up the coal-
(SNG) business. The company will inorganic chemical compounds and to-synthetic natural gas business. The
utilise the end product, SNG, or any products of any nature. This includes coal ministry had last year conveyed
other product manufactured from setting up necessary plants, captive the approval of DIPAM and NITI
syn gas, following studies and due coal mining, coal benefi ciation, and Aayog for the formation of the CIL-
diligence. import of coal equipment and infra- GAIL joint venture.

138 Chemical Weekly April 8, 2025

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