India expands solar manufacturing and capacity as Vikram Solar opens new plant

Vikram Solar has inaugurated a new 6 GW solar panel manufacturing facility in Gangaikondan, Tamil Nadu. This expansion increases the company’s total annual photovoltaic module manufacturing capacity to 15.5 GW, a 63% increase from its previous capacity of 9.5 GW. The project is expected to create over 800 skilled jobs in the region and aims to eventually integrate the production of cells, wafers, and ingots to reduce supply chain dependencies.

Parallel to these manufacturing developments, India’s national solar capacity is experiencing rapid acceleration. According to Wood Mackenzie, India is projected to commission more solar capacity in 2026 than in any previous year, with annual additions expected to exceed 50 GW. This follows a significant growth trend where cumulative capacity rose from 2.82 GW in early 2014 to over 162 GW by mid-2026, reflecting a major shift in the country’s energy transition and domestic renewable manufacturing ambitions.