1. With the June 1 MNRE mandate restricting non-DCR solar modules, what immediate impact do you expect on India’s rooftop and C&I solar markets?
With the June 1 mandate restricting non-DCR solar modules, the immediate impact on India’s rooftop and C&I solar markets is expected to be a short-term supply correction, particularly in projects dependent on net metering and open access mechanisms. These segments are likely to witness limited module availability, selective project delays, and an increase in overall project costs due to the significant price gap between non-DCR and DCR modules.
However, rooftop projects operating on a Behind-The-Meter model are unlikely to see any major impact, as such projects can still utilize imported or non-DCR modules. The larger challenge would be faced by net-metered rooftop projects and C&I open access projects, where compliance with domestic content requirements becomes essential.
At the same time, from a long-term perspective, this mandate is a strong and positive step toward strengthening India’s domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem. It is expected to accelerate investments in local module and cell manufacturing, improve supply chain resilience, and reduce dependency on imports over time.
2. Industry experts anticipate a rise in project costs due to potential module shortages. How do you see pricing and project economics evolving over the next 12-18 months?
With the demand and supply mismatch for a period due to the new mandate in place, pricing will see some fluctuations within the next 12-18 months. As far as project economics are concerned, there is likely to be some project-level strain on account of the current mismatch.
That said, the situation is likely to normalize with time, and with increasing investments across the manufacturing ecosystem in India, India’s domestic manufacturing will gain prominence. Increased manufacturing efficiencies, especially regarding emerging technologies such as TOPCon, will create better economics for the end-users in the long run.
3. Do you believe India’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem is currently equipped to meet the surge in demand created by the new policy framework?
While India’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem has seen rapid evolution in the recent past, the demand surge created by the policy mandate will certainly be a challenge to deal with. Although module manufacturing capacity is likely to rise, other aspects such as cells, wafers, and certain other upstream components will continue to face limitations.
Having said that, the intent of the industry and its readiness cannot be denied at all. There are already significant investments taking place across the entire ecosystem, and as long as the ecosystem gets appropriate support from policies, India stands a very good chance of becoming a global solar manufacturing hub in the coming years.
4. How will Sunkind’s upcoming 1 GW TOPCon module manufacturing facility help address supply-chain challenges and support developers and EPC players?
Sunkind’s upcoming 1 GW TOPCon module manufacturing facility in Jaipur will significantly strengthen domestic supply-chain reliability for developers and EPC players amid evolving DCR requirements. The facility will manufacture DCR modules using cells secured through our long-term supply agreement with a leading domestic solar cell manufacturer. Further, we are also developing our own 2.5 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Madhya Pradesh, targeted by end-2027, which will substantially support our EPC and IPP pipeline. Our focus is to build a fully integrated, dependable, and future-ready solar manufacturing ecosystem in India.
5. What strategies should businesses and commercial consumers adopt to mitigate risks related to module availability, project delays, and rising costs?
To mitigate risks related to module availability, project delays, and rising costs, businesses and commercial consumers must shift from a price-driven approach to a long-term supply security approach. The industry is entering a phase where assured delivery timelines, bankable suppliers, and execution capability will become more important than simply choosing the lowest-cost module.
Consumers should partner with EPC players and manufacturers having secured domestic supply chains, strong balance sheets, and proven execution track records. Early procurement planning, locking module allocations in advance, and adopting high-efficiency technologies will also be critical to avoid future cost escalations and commissioning delays.
In the coming years, reliability of supply will become as important as the cost of power itself.
6. Looking ahead, how do you see India balancing its goals of self-reliance in solar manufacturing with the need to maintain rapid renewable energy deployment?
For India to achieve its renewable energy ambitions sustainably, a practical balance between rapid renewable deployment and self-reliance in solar manufacturing is essential. Domestic manufacturing is critical for India’s long-term energy security, supply-chain stability, and reducing import dependence. At the same time, renewable energy deployment must continue at scale to meet the country’s climate and energy transition targets.
Going forward, policy support for domestic manufacturing must continue, but implementation should remain phased and well-aligned with actual manufacturing capacity to avoid supply disruptions and project delays. With the right balance, India has the potential to emerge not only as one of the world’s largest renewable energy markets, but also as a global solar manufacturing hub.
