Que: Can you tell us about the company’s journey and next phase of growth?

Ans: IB Solar’s journey has been closely aligned with the evolution of India’s renewable energy sector. We have grown from a relatively modest manufacturing base into a company with a strong focus on high-efficiency solar modules. Today, we operate a 1.5 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, and our next phase of growth is focused on strengthening technology, quality, and backward integration.

We believe the future of solar manufacturing is not just about adding capacity, but about building a more integrated and competitive ecosystem. Our focus is on advanced cell and module manufacturing, stronger supply-chain capabilities, and expanding into energy storage and integrated clean-energy solutions.

Que: Is adding more GW capacity still the right strategy?

Ans: Capacity is important, but capacity alone is not enough. The next phase of growth must be driven by technology, utilisation, quality, and profitability.

At IB Solar, with our 1.5 GW manufacturing base, we are focused on ensuring that our capacity is supported by strong demand, efficient production, and reliable technology. We believe the market is moving towards higher-efficiency products, better manufacturing processes, and stronger quality control.

Our objective is not simply to produce more modules, but to produce the right modules, at the right quality, and at a competitive cost.

Que: Your current N-TOPCon portfolio spans products of up to around 640 W. How are developers' and EPCs' expectations changing when it comes to module power, efficiency and bifacial performance?

Ans: Developers and EPCs are becoming more informed and more demanding. They are no longer looking at module wattage in isolation. They are evaluating the overall value proposition, including efficiency, bifacial performance, temperature behaviour, degradation, reliability, and the total cost of energy generated over the project’s lifetime.

Higher-power modules can help optimise land use, reduce the number of modules required for a given project, and improve installation efficiency. However, the highest wattage is not automatically the best solution for every application. Module dimensions, compatibility with mounting structures, transport, installation, and project design all matter.

We are seeing a clear preference for high-efficiency N-type TOPCon technology because it offers a strong combination of power output, efficiency, and long-term performance. Our focus is to ensure that the product delivers value not just at the time of purchase, but throughout its operating life.

Que: IB Solar's N-type modules highlight lower degradation and improved performance in high temperatures and low-light conditions. How important are these characteristics for India's diverse climatic conditions?

Ans: These characteristics are extremely important for India. Our country has a wide range of climatic conditions, from hot and dry regions to humid coastal areas, high-altitude locations, and regions with frequent monsoon conditions. A module must perform reliably across this diversity.

For us, the importance of N-type technology is not limited to its initial efficiency. Lower degradation, better temperature behaviour, and strong performance under different irradiance conditions contribute to the long-term energy yield of a project. This is particularly important because solar projects are long-term investments, and even small differences in annual performance can have a meaningful impact over the project’s lifetime.

We therefore believe that the industry should increasingly evaluate modules on lifetime energy generation and reliability, rather than only on nameplate wattage or initial purchase price.

Que: One of India's major challenges is the gap between module capacity and domestic cell availability. How does this affect manufacturers such as IB Solar?

Ans: The gap between module manufacturing capacity and domestic cell availability is an important challenge for the industry. When cell supply is constrained, manufacturers face challenges related to procurement, cost, production planning, and the ability to respond quickly to customer demand.

For IB Solar, this reinforces the importance of backward integration. We are actively progressing with plans for domestic solar cell manufacturing to strengthen our supply chain and reduce dependence on imported cells over time.

We believe that a strong domestic cell ecosystem will benefit not only module manufacturers, but also developers, EPCs, and the wider renewable energy sector.

Que: What are your expansion plans? Where do you position yourself in India's solar manufacturing landscape over the next three to five years?

Ans: Our expansion plans are focused on building a stronger and more integrated clean-energy manufacturing platform. We currently have 1.5 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity, and our next phase of growth will focus on 1 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity and BESS manufacturing.

The proposed cell line is an important step towards strengthening our domestic value chain. It will help us move beyond module manufacturing and build greater control over technology, quality, and supply-chain requirements. At the same time, our focus on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) reflects our belief that the future of renewable energy is not only about generating electricity, but also about storing and managing it efficiently.

Over the next three to five years, our ambition is to position IB Solar as a technology-driven, quality-focused, and increasingly integrated Indian clean-energy company. We want to serve a broad range of customers while continuing to build a strong domestic manufacturing base.

We recognise that the industry is becoming more competitive, and that scale alone will not be enough. Our priorities will be technology, manufacturing efficiency, product reliability, customer confidence, and sustainable growth. We believe that companies that combine these strengths will be best placed to contribute to India’s renewable energy ambitions and create long-term value.