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Experts Discuss Building Self-Reliant Solar Manufacturing Base at REConnect Nagpur 2026

Industry leaders at REConnect Nagpur 2026 highlighted that backward integration, quality control, and cost competitiveness are critical to scale India’s solar manufacturing sector, while calling for stronger policy support, workforce development, and innovation to reduce import dependence and sustain long-term growth.

January 09, 2026. By News Bureau

Solar industry experts at REConnect Nagpur 2026 highlighted the need to build a globally competitive and self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem to support India’s clean energy ambitions.

Speaking during the panel discussion “Building a Global-Scale, Self-Reliant Solar Manufacturing Base,” Kabir Bakshi, Territory Manager – West, Adani Solar, emphasised on the need to focus on the manufacturing process and improving efficiency and quality for surviving in the market.

“If you see the annual demand of India, it is roughly 40-50 odd gigawatt if it increases to some extent. So, to survive in this manufacturing industry, you will have to do the backward integration to reduce your dependency on the import, to have better quality and pricing control,” he said.

The panelists stressed on the importance of backward integration as scaling manufacturing without it is not sustainable.

Speaking on the same lines, Hemant Arora, Director, Energetica India Magazine, said, “Backward integration is most important because without that we cannot increase our manufacturing and it is expected that soon we will be having the biggest manufacturing for cells also. If you are talking about the Indian market, right now we are the biggest consumer of global market for the solar. So, we are becoming one of the biggest markets for global platform. Thus, we will have to focus more on the quality because policies are favourable, we are getting PLIs, support from the local as well as state governments.”

One of the key concerns raised by the panelists was the rising price of silver, which has impacted manufacturers, suppliers, and ultimately end consumers. The discussion highlighted that without backward integration, companies remain dependent on external players across the value chain.

The moderator of the session, Aniket Tondare, Director (Sales), ECE India Energies, asked the panelists if the overall financial capacities of the companies allow for backward integration.

Responding to it, Nitin Gupta, Head - Solar Business, Luminous Power Technologies, said, “The books allow, but after that, what matters is, it should be done in the right manner and at the right scale. Luminous is a 100 percent Schneider subsidiary. And today, Schneider itself is having a market cap of more than INR 42 lakh crore. So, yes, that is the reason we are investing in various technologies based on future perspective. Apart from this, we have to be self-reliant and independent now.”

According to Ashok Kumar Singh, President - Solar Business, Novasys Greenenergy, there are essentially two key factors driving the decision to pursue backward integration. The first is quality assurance, and the second is cost. The market is currently extremely price-sensitive. Everyone is under pricing pressure, and customers are consistently demanding the best possible price.

“Unless we have control over raw material, you cannot control over the price. So, all the components, maximum, whether it is a big player, Adani, Reliance, whoever it is, they are going for backward integration just to reduce the cost. And, there are other advantages of it; that is indirectly hidden to it. But I would say, in front, the price is the biggest reason. And, if we are going for backward integration, customers are going to be benefited with the best quality, better quality and the best prices,” he stated.

The panelists also discussed about technological adoption, innovation and the challenges faced by the industry. The core arguments revolve around the necessity of moving beyond mere adaptation to genuine innovation, the risks associated with rapid technological shifts, and the critical importance of a skilled workforce.

Kumar Utkarsh, Vice President - International Business, Cosmic PV Power, pointed out that the industry primarily adapts technologies developed in other advanced economies (like China) rather than inventing its own. This approach carries a significant risk: substantial capital investments in older technologies could be quickly devalued if newer, cheaper alternatives emerge rapidly. He advocated for proactive investment in future and emerging technologies rather than passively adopting external innovations.

Arora emphasised that while investment policies and global technological trends are discussed, the most crucial factor is a skilled workforce. He argued that a proficient workforce is essential for driving innovation, ensuring quality, and achieving competitive pricing. He observed that many new companies are not adequately utilising skilled labour, leading to quality deficiencies and a perpetual state of "chasing" technologies developed by global players. He stressed on the need to invest in developing the local skilled workforce to foster indigenous innovation, improve quality, and enhance competitiveness.

The panelists further highlighted that it is crucial to educate consumers on what constitutes good quality and why it is more important than price. Many consumers opt for 50 percent lower prices, disregarding quality. Besides, standardisation of the industry, similar to established markets like gold or metal, is essential and timely. This would help ensure consistent quality across products.

A significant concern raised during the panel discussion was the additional structural cost, estimated at around INR 20 lakh per agrivoltaic setup. This cost cannot be recovered through current tariffs, creating a financial burden for adopters. Speakers advocated for government intervention to subsidise these additional structural costs. A specific recommendation is to include agrivoltaics within the existing Kusum scheme and provide a separate, additional subsidy for these projects.

The discussion also highlighted that incentivising only a select few through Production Linked Incentives (PLI) is insufficient. There's a need to incentivise a wider range of players who are willing to contribute to the industry's growth and innovation.