Solar PLI Scheme To Be Divided Into Separate Parts To Include More Companies

The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for solar power equipment may be split into two or more parts.

This division will allow the Rs 19,500 crore worth initiative to include more companies engaged in different levels of indigenous module making.

"We can divide the PLI into different buckets for polysilicon-to-modules making, wafers to modules and cells to modules manufacturing. This will promote manufacturing of all the components and include more players," a senior government official told the Economic Times (ET).

There are four stages in module making: wafers, cells, modules, and polysilicon.

India currently has a capacity of 15 GW, but it does not account for any polysilicon or wafer production.

This PLI scheme's pilot round was proposed with an outlay of Rs 4,500 crore to enhance the integration of the entire process.

The incentives were awarded to Jindal India Solar, Shirdi Sai Electricals and Reliance New Energy as they committed to manufacturing the modules from polysilicon.

The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has proposed prescribing a minimum of 90 per cent value addition and 22 per cent module performance to be eligible to obtain benefits under the scheme.

Meanwhile, the industry has asked the centre to dilute the local value addition and the necessary efficiency requirements.