India's Solar Manufacturing: No PLI Funds Released Yet

Despite the ambitious Rs 24,000-crore PLI scheme for solar equipment manufacturers, no funds have been disbursed, as revealed in a recent parliamentary session. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has outlined this scheme to support high-efficiency solar PV module manufacturing, but financial distribution remains pending until a year post-project commissioning.

The scheme targets an extensive solar PV module manufacturing capacity of 48,337 MW, as stated by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Although significant efforts have been made, such as setting up capacities for solar PV modules and cells, challenges persist. These include inexperience in domestic upstream components and difficulties in global supply chain dependencies.

The initiative also strives to bolster domestic manufacturing of ancillary solar products through various policy measures, including duty impositions and skill-development programs. The government aims to reduce import reliance and enhance domestic capabilities over time, but progress remains hindered by the current nascent state of local manufacturing infrastructure.