India to mandate use of local solar ingots, wafers by 2028 to cut China reliance

Waaree Energies to Tata Power and Indosol Solar have proposed billions of rupees in investments to build solar manufacturing capacity in India.

India is proposing that renewable energy firms use only locally made solar ingots and wafers from June 2028, in a move aimed at curbing Chinese imports.

India currently relies entirely on China for its imports of cells, ingots, wafers and poly silicon for solar panels. (Reuters)

Waaree Energies Ltd. to Tata Power Co. Ltd. and Indosol Solar have proposed billions of rupees in investments to build renewable manufacturing capacity as India aims to double its non-fossil fuel-based power capacity to 500 GW by 2030.

The government has already mandated the usage of locally assembled solar panels in state-run projects even though components like cells, wafers, ingots and polysilicon could be imported. India has also directed the use of domestically made solar cells from June 2026. The country currently has a manufacturing capacity of about 2 GW for ingots and wafers.

India currently relies entirely on China for its imports of cells, ingots, wafers and poly silicon for solar panels.