Navitas Solar Plans ₹1,500 Crore Gujarat Expansion

Navitas Solar has planned an investment of about ₹1,500 crore in Gujarat for a 3.6 GW solar cell manufacturing facility. The project also includes a pilot wafer-and-ingot production line at the company’s existing Ankleshwar campus in Gujarat.

Project Features

The proposed facility is part of Navitas Solar’s entry into solar cell manufacturing. The first phase of the project is targeted for commissioning in 2027, subject to market conditions and project readiness. Civil work for the project, covering more than 10 lakh sq ft, is already underway.

Funding and Capacity

The capital expenditure plan uses a 70:30 debt-to-equity ratio. The funding mix includes loans from public sector banks, internal cash generation, and a proposed third equity round. The manufacturing line has a planned capacity of 3.6 GW.

Employment and Supply Chain

The expansion is expected to create nearly 1,000 direct jobs in manufacturing, engineering, operations, and research functions. The project is linked to domestic value addition in India’s solar supply chain and to reduced import dependence in solar cell production.

Important Facts for Exams

• Solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect.
• Solar wafers are thin slices of semiconductor material used in solar cell production.
• Ingots are large blocks of purified semiconductor material used to make wafers.
• Gujarat has several industrial hubs, including Ankleshwar in Bharuch district.

Solar Manufacturing in India

Solar cell manufacturing is a key segment of the photovoltaic value chain, which also includes wafers, ingots, modules, and balance-of-system components. India has expanded domestic solar manufacturing capacity through private investment and policy support in the renewable energy sector.