Energetica India Magazine - November 2025

Hardip Singh, COO, Grew Solar, highlighted that there are several emerging technologies on the anvil: HJT, back contact, and perovskite being among the most notable. “While some companies are al- ready working on these, it remains uncertain when they will be fully commercialised. HJT, for instance, Ashok Kumar Singh, President – Solar Business, Novasys Greenergy, expects the TOPCon technology to remain dominant for at least the next five years. “Our infrastructure is fully aligned with these technol- ogies, and customers are readily adopting these higher-efficiency is not a new technology; it has been around for many years. However, the high cost of deployment has limited its large- scale commercial adoption so far.” He further added, “At our end, all the facilities we have set up, whether for module manufacturing or the upcoming cell man- ufacturing lines, are designed to be fully upgradable. In the event of an industry-wide shift towards HJT or back contact technology, we are well-equipped to swiftly adapt our setup to align with the new standards. While designing our facil- ities, planning the layouts, and finalising equipment orders with suppliers, we ensured that upgradability was built into the process.” Grew Solar also have a dedicated team in place that works closely with various technology partners and innovators. “This proactive approach ensures that when such transitions occur, we are ready to implement them without delay, allow- ing us to stay at the forefront of solar technology evolution,” asserted Singh. products. So, we don’t foresee any major challenges ahead,” he said. Shah, however, emphasised that technological evolution in this sector happens every two years or so. “We began our first production line post-COVID with Mono PERC technology, then moved on to TOPCon. Now, we’re transitioning towards back contact, and the future clearly points to tandem per- ovskite. We already have plans to offer the most advanced, proven, and updated technologies to our customers. Whatever needs to be done to stay ahead, we will do it,” he asserted. The Way Ahead In the end, India’s push for self-reliance in the solar PV val- ue chain must be viewed through the lens of today’s deeply interconnected global economy. China’s dominance – from polysilicon to wafers and cells – remains overwhelming, and attempting complete isolation is neither practical nor strate- gically sound. Short-term supply shocks driven by geopoliti- cal tensions are certainly possible, but a long-term decoupling is far less likely. China’s massive overcapacity in solar manufacturing, com- bined with tariff barriers in the US, UK and other major markets, means Beijing needs stable export destinations – and India is one of the largest. This commercial dependen- cy, especially in a sector as globally integrated as renewables, creates a strong incentive for China to keep relations stable and predictable. However, India must ensure that this inter- dependency never becomes a geopolitical pressure point or a bargaining chip in China’s hands. For India, the real path to self-reliance lies not in shutting out China, but in steadily building domestic capability, securing upstream inputs, encouraging technology partnerships and using policy levers to reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Over time, this balanced, vigilant approach will allow India to strengthen its manufacturing base while remaining pragmati- cally engaged in a global supply chain that no major economy can afford to operate without. Recognising this shift, major manufacturers are already planning new facilities with modular, upgradable lines that can pivot to next-generation technologies. This strategic flex - ibility is set to define India’s competitiveness as the global solar landscape transitions to ultra-high-efficiency module architectures. energetica INDIA- November_2025 43 FEATURE STORY