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REconnect Coimbatore: Industry Leaders Chart a Blueprint for Tamil Nadu’s Solar Future
At REconnect Summit-25 in Coimbatore, industry leaders gathered to discuss the future of solar energy in Tamil Nadu, exploring ways to strengthen manufacturing, boost innovation, and bridge critical skill gaps.
December 04, 2025. By Dineshwori
At the REconnect Summit-25 in Coimbatore, industry leaders came together to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) within India’s renewable energy manufacturing landscape, and to explore how Tamil Nadu can shape the future of solar manufacturing and innovation.
Dr. Sathish Suri, Managing Director of GreenPath Energy & Sustainability Services and moderator of the session “Building Tamil Nadu’s Solar Future – Manufacturing and Innovation,” opened the discussion by emphasising the urgent need to accelerate renewable energy adoption across the country.
Referring to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2023–24 report, he explained that total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the environment per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated from thermal power plants is approximately 820 grams of CO₂ equivalent. In comparison, renewable energy sources emit as little as 20–25 grams per kilowatt-hour. This stark difference, he said, demonstrates why states across India are increasingly adopting renewable energy pathways to meet national targets of 500 GW by 2030.
According to him, India has already installed 274–275 GW of renewable energy capacity, with an additional 25–30 GW in the pipeline. He further highlighted that India currently generates about 35–40 percent of its energy from renewable sources, signalling strong progress but also room for expansion. Recalling the COP26 commitment, he reaffirmed India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, noting that “a lot still needs to be done.”
Tamil Nadu’s Position in the Renewable Energy Landscape
“Tamil Nadu is the third-largest renewable energy developer in India, after Gujarat and Rajasthan, with nearly 19 GW of installed renewable capacity,” Dr. Suri stated, noting that the state’s geological advantages, availability of land banks, and strong wind and solar resources make it a major renewable energy hub and a valuable asset.
In addition to supportive government policies, Dr. Suri highlighted that Tamil Nadu has the entire renewable energy ecosystem within the state — including technocrats, investors, policy backing, and, most importantly, a progressive public mindset.
With this context, Dr. Suri posed his first question to Basavaraj Murgod, Key Account Manager – India, SolaX Power, on how Tamil Nadu can contribute to the development of inverter manufacturing technology.
Murgod acknowledged Tamil Nadu’s unique advantages that many other states lack. “Tamil Nadu is a hub for electronics production and manufacturing. This means that essential components such as PCBs and control boards, which are required for inverter manufacturing, can be sourced or developed in partnership with industry pioneers already present in the state. Once manufacturing begins, the next requirement is sales and exports, and Tamil Nadu is a hub for ports, from where you can export produced inverters to Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and other regions. This reduces logistics costs when compared to several other states,” he said.
Murgod continued that the state already has a well-established renewable energy ecosystem, with many large EPC developers active in the wind and solar sectors. Wind energy, in particular, he said, has been rapidly adopted in Tamil Nadu. Another significant strength, according to him, is the availability of a skilled workforce, as Tamil Nadu is home to many engineering colleges.
Future Possibilities with ALMM and ALCM Policies
Dr. Suri then invited Ramachandran Bala, DGM – Sales & Business Development (South India), Navitas Solar, to comment on leveraging opportunities under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) and the Approved List of Cell Manufacturers (ALCM).
Bala asserted that Tamil Nadu has all the essential ingredients to build a fully backward-integrated renewable manufacturing ecosystem. “In the next few years, Tamil Nadu will have the complete ecosystem, not just module manufacturing, but cell production and other key components such as junction box (JB), EVA, backsheet, glass, frames, and up to the level of ingots, polysilicon, and silver paste,” he stated.
Bala stated that the opportunity for Tamil Nadu and India in solar manufacturing is very real. “India already has over 100 GW of module manufacturing capacity, and cell production is rapidly growing. Now the only gap that remains is the backward integration manufacturing of polysilicon and wafer,” he said.
Bala stressed that India must be prepared not only for backward integration but also for adaptable module manufacturing that can quickly respond to evolving technologies. He reiterated that Tamil Nadu, with its high potential and government support through policies like ALMM, ALCM, and PLI schemes, could emerge as a major manufacturing hub.
He emphasised that achieving full backward integration is possible only if “we have deep-rooted technological partnerships with global players who support us for precision engineering projects, including ingot and wafer casting and semiconductor-grade chemical processes.”
“We have the potential; it is just a matter of time. I believe that by 2030–2035, we should achieve significant volumes in modules, cells, and other components. Ingot and wafer production will, however, continue to depend upon good technological penetration, along with very skilled labour and also some push from the government side, as these are highly capital-intensive projects,” he added.
Automation: The Next Leap in Solar Manufacturing
“Automation, robotics and AI are the future. Solar module manufacturing is a very critical process. I would describe it as an assembly line, where each station performs a specific step. At every stage, robotics and quality checks should be implemented,” said Niket Shah, Promoter, Aatmanirbhar Solar.
Shah noted that AI is now being increasingly integrated into their solar module manufacturing line, adding that his company is the first in Madhya Pradesh to set up a 1.6 GW facility with AI technology.
Explaining how AI helps manufacturers, he said, “There are four key stations — pre-lamination, post-lamination, raw material inspection, and finished product checking — where the quality of each module can be thoroughly monitored. Each module needs to be robust enough to last up to 30 years, which is the duration of the performance warranty. With the help of AI, manufacturers can ensure good quality modules for the market.”
Shah believes that with coordinated support from state and central governments, Tamil Nadu can emerge as the leading renewable energy hub in India.
Ensuring Sustainable Solar Production
“Think carefully before you act. If, after taking action, you have to constantly reconcile or correct it, you will end up in a mess,” said Dr. M. Dwarakanath, Chairman, State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Government of Puducherry, while highlighting the growing global emphasis the circular economy.
“Every component you manufacture or assemble should undergo a life cycle assessment, because many metals used in manufacturing can be toxic. All materials need to be properly collected after their intended use, and material recovery must be done scientifically,” he noted.
He emphasised that in Tamil Nadu, much of the waste is simply collected and sold to scrap dealers.
“This is happening right, left and centre, but I want to sensitize not only to Tamil Nadu, but to all accessory manufacturing entities that you should have a cradle-to-grave approach. This also fulfills the objectives of a circular economy.”
Furthermore, Dr. Dwarakanath stressed the need for responsible and cautious adoption of technology. He urged industry players to consider the entire product lifecycle, along with business and environmental ethics, and to continuously review and refine their processes. He also stressed the importance of investment in R&D, innovation, technology efficiency, capacity building, and national–international collaboration.
As many companies now engage in performance contracting and material sourcing, he warned them to be careful about the terms, commitments, and responsibilities involved, ensuring they align with India’s national and international agreements.
Innovation Beyond Modules
Kumar Utkarsh, Vice President - International Business, Cosmic PV Power, highlighted that innovation in renewable energy extends beyond panel manufacturing.
He said, “Innovation is a process; it happens on a daily basis. Sometimes, very innovative products are introduced to the market, but if they are not accepted, they fail. In the renewable energy sector, however, government support and public acceptance are currently so strong that innovation is happening rapidly across the industry.”
He shared an example from Bikaner University, where solar panels installed over a parking area led to a striking change in the local ecosystem. A survey found that the radiation from the panels had driven away insects that once thrived on the plants below. In response, the university established a research team to develop solutions that could help protect these species.
“A lot of innovation is happening on the commercial side. In many buildings in Gujarat and other tier-1 cities, there isn’t enough rooftop space for solar installations. As a result, solutions like solar windshields or wall-mounted panels are being developed to generate power,” Utkarsh said.
Another major area of innovation is energy storage. “Over the next 10 years, I believe we will surpass current demand, given the level of investment by manufacturers, and India will reach 80–100 GW of solar manufacturing capacity. After that, the focus will shift to how we store this energy, which is a very expensive thing.”
“The way we are increasing the watt peak of panels, the sizes are also increasing. So, the innovation on how we can compact the size with increased efficiency or increased watt power will also be one thing that we see across the sector,” he added.
Bridging the Skill Gap
Dr. Suri highlighted the significant skill development gap within the renewable energy sector and invited Dr. Dwarakanath to share his thoughts on how this challenge could be addressed.
Dr. Dwarakanath explained that several organisations across Delhi and Puducherry have already begun partnering with technical institutes to offer short-term training programmes free of cost.
“Each state government has different centres, such as environmental awareness centres, eco-clubs and technical clubs established with government assistance. These clubs can continuously run entrepreneurship and skill development programmes. This is one way of implementing such initiatives, and industries can collaborate with nearby Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Industries, especially manufacturing units, can also take part by sponsoring or conducting such courses,” he stated.
Prashanth Byndoor, Regional Head – Sales & Marketing at Adani Solar, highlighted that one major challenge the company currently faces is the lack of the right set of skills required for the technological commissioning of its manufacturing plant.
“In India, we currently have around 120 GW of module manufacturing capacity. However, when it comes to backward integration, cell manufacturing is still limited — we have only about 24 GW, and wafer production is currently around 2 GW. We are yet to touch upon polysilicon and Mg silicon and the mining part, but the availability of the right skill set remains a major challenge,” he said.
He added that they are currently driving large-scale recruitment efforts across every city they enter, in order to identify and assess the right skill sets.
Dr. Sathish Suri, Managing Director of GreenPath Energy & Sustainability Services and moderator of the session “Building Tamil Nadu’s Solar Future – Manufacturing and Innovation,” opened the discussion by emphasising the urgent need to accelerate renewable energy adoption across the country.
Referring to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2023–24 report, he explained that total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the environment per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated from thermal power plants is approximately 820 grams of CO₂ equivalent. In comparison, renewable energy sources emit as little as 20–25 grams per kilowatt-hour. This stark difference, he said, demonstrates why states across India are increasingly adopting renewable energy pathways to meet national targets of 500 GW by 2030.
According to him, India has already installed 274–275 GW of renewable energy capacity, with an additional 25–30 GW in the pipeline. He further highlighted that India currently generates about 35–40 percent of its energy from renewable sources, signalling strong progress but also room for expansion. Recalling the COP26 commitment, he reaffirmed India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, noting that “a lot still needs to be done.”
Tamil Nadu’s Position in the Renewable Energy Landscape
“Tamil Nadu is the third-largest renewable energy developer in India, after Gujarat and Rajasthan, with nearly 19 GW of installed renewable capacity,” Dr. Suri stated, noting that the state’s geological advantages, availability of land banks, and strong wind and solar resources make it a major renewable energy hub and a valuable asset.
In addition to supportive government policies, Dr. Suri highlighted that Tamil Nadu has the entire renewable energy ecosystem within the state — including technocrats, investors, policy backing, and, most importantly, a progressive public mindset.
With this context, Dr. Suri posed his first question to Basavaraj Murgod, Key Account Manager – India, SolaX Power, on how Tamil Nadu can contribute to the development of inverter manufacturing technology.
Murgod acknowledged Tamil Nadu’s unique advantages that many other states lack. “Tamil Nadu is a hub for electronics production and manufacturing. This means that essential components such as PCBs and control boards, which are required for inverter manufacturing, can be sourced or developed in partnership with industry pioneers already present in the state. Once manufacturing begins, the next requirement is sales and exports, and Tamil Nadu is a hub for ports, from where you can export produced inverters to Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and other regions. This reduces logistics costs when compared to several other states,” he said.
Murgod continued that the state already has a well-established renewable energy ecosystem, with many large EPC developers active in the wind and solar sectors. Wind energy, in particular, he said, has been rapidly adopted in Tamil Nadu. Another significant strength, according to him, is the availability of a skilled workforce, as Tamil Nadu is home to many engineering colleges.
Future Possibilities with ALMM and ALCM Policies
Dr. Suri then invited Ramachandran Bala, DGM – Sales & Business Development (South India), Navitas Solar, to comment on leveraging opportunities under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) and the Approved List of Cell Manufacturers (ALCM).
Bala asserted that Tamil Nadu has all the essential ingredients to build a fully backward-integrated renewable manufacturing ecosystem. “In the next few years, Tamil Nadu will have the complete ecosystem, not just module manufacturing, but cell production and other key components such as junction box (JB), EVA, backsheet, glass, frames, and up to the level of ingots, polysilicon, and silver paste,” he stated.
Bala stated that the opportunity for Tamil Nadu and India in solar manufacturing is very real. “India already has over 100 GW of module manufacturing capacity, and cell production is rapidly growing. Now the only gap that remains is the backward integration manufacturing of polysilicon and wafer,” he said.
Bala stressed that India must be prepared not only for backward integration but also for adaptable module manufacturing that can quickly respond to evolving technologies. He reiterated that Tamil Nadu, with its high potential and government support through policies like ALMM, ALCM, and PLI schemes, could emerge as a major manufacturing hub.
He emphasised that achieving full backward integration is possible only if “we have deep-rooted technological partnerships with global players who support us for precision engineering projects, including ingot and wafer casting and semiconductor-grade chemical processes.”
“We have the potential; it is just a matter of time. I believe that by 2030–2035, we should achieve significant volumes in modules, cells, and other components. Ingot and wafer production will, however, continue to depend upon good technological penetration, along with very skilled labour and also some push from the government side, as these are highly capital-intensive projects,” he added.
Automation: The Next Leap in Solar Manufacturing
“Automation, robotics and AI are the future. Solar module manufacturing is a very critical process. I would describe it as an assembly line, where each station performs a specific step. At every stage, robotics and quality checks should be implemented,” said Niket Shah, Promoter, Aatmanirbhar Solar.
Shah noted that AI is now being increasingly integrated into their solar module manufacturing line, adding that his company is the first in Madhya Pradesh to set up a 1.6 GW facility with AI technology.
Explaining how AI helps manufacturers, he said, “There are four key stations — pre-lamination, post-lamination, raw material inspection, and finished product checking — where the quality of each module can be thoroughly monitored. Each module needs to be robust enough to last up to 30 years, which is the duration of the performance warranty. With the help of AI, manufacturers can ensure good quality modules for the market.”
Shah believes that with coordinated support from state and central governments, Tamil Nadu can emerge as the leading renewable energy hub in India.
Ensuring Sustainable Solar Production
“Think carefully before you act. If, after taking action, you have to constantly reconcile or correct it, you will end up in a mess,” said Dr. M. Dwarakanath, Chairman, State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Government of Puducherry, while highlighting the growing global emphasis the circular economy.
“Every component you manufacture or assemble should undergo a life cycle assessment, because many metals used in manufacturing can be toxic. All materials need to be properly collected after their intended use, and material recovery must be done scientifically,” he noted.
He emphasised that in Tamil Nadu, much of the waste is simply collected and sold to scrap dealers.
“This is happening right, left and centre, but I want to sensitize not only to Tamil Nadu, but to all accessory manufacturing entities that you should have a cradle-to-grave approach. This also fulfills the objectives of a circular economy.”
Furthermore, Dr. Dwarakanath stressed the need for responsible and cautious adoption of technology. He urged industry players to consider the entire product lifecycle, along with business and environmental ethics, and to continuously review and refine their processes. He also stressed the importance of investment in R&D, innovation, technology efficiency, capacity building, and national–international collaboration.
As many companies now engage in performance contracting and material sourcing, he warned them to be careful about the terms, commitments, and responsibilities involved, ensuring they align with India’s national and international agreements.
Innovation Beyond Modules
Kumar Utkarsh, Vice President - International Business, Cosmic PV Power, highlighted that innovation in renewable energy extends beyond panel manufacturing.
He said, “Innovation is a process; it happens on a daily basis. Sometimes, very innovative products are introduced to the market, but if they are not accepted, they fail. In the renewable energy sector, however, government support and public acceptance are currently so strong that innovation is happening rapidly across the industry.”
He shared an example from Bikaner University, where solar panels installed over a parking area led to a striking change in the local ecosystem. A survey found that the radiation from the panels had driven away insects that once thrived on the plants below. In response, the university established a research team to develop solutions that could help protect these species.
“A lot of innovation is happening on the commercial side. In many buildings in Gujarat and other tier-1 cities, there isn’t enough rooftop space for solar installations. As a result, solutions like solar windshields or wall-mounted panels are being developed to generate power,” Utkarsh said.
Another major area of innovation is energy storage. “Over the next 10 years, I believe we will surpass current demand, given the level of investment by manufacturers, and India will reach 80–100 GW of solar manufacturing capacity. After that, the focus will shift to how we store this energy, which is a very expensive thing.”
“The way we are increasing the watt peak of panels, the sizes are also increasing. So, the innovation on how we can compact the size with increased efficiency or increased watt power will also be one thing that we see across the sector,” he added.
Bridging the Skill Gap
Dr. Suri highlighted the significant skill development gap within the renewable energy sector and invited Dr. Dwarakanath to share his thoughts on how this challenge could be addressed.
Dr. Dwarakanath explained that several organisations across Delhi and Puducherry have already begun partnering with technical institutes to offer short-term training programmes free of cost.
“Each state government has different centres, such as environmental awareness centres, eco-clubs and technical clubs established with government assistance. These clubs can continuously run entrepreneurship and skill development programmes. This is one way of implementing such initiatives, and industries can collaborate with nearby Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Industries, especially manufacturing units, can also take part by sponsoring or conducting such courses,” he stated.
Prashanth Byndoor, Regional Head – Sales & Marketing at Adani Solar, highlighted that one major challenge the company currently faces is the lack of the right set of skills required for the technological commissioning of its manufacturing plant.
“In India, we currently have around 120 GW of module manufacturing capacity. However, when it comes to backward integration, cell manufacturing is still limited — we have only about 24 GW, and wafer production is currently around 2 GW. We are yet to touch upon polysilicon and Mg silicon and the mining part, but the availability of the right skill set remains a major challenge,” he said.
He added that they are currently driving large-scale recruitment efforts across every city they enter, in order to identify and assess the right skill sets.
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