Vikram Solar collaborates with European Companies

Vikram Solar an Indian PV module manufacturer headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal is now extending its production capacity to include solar cells as well. The company’s manufacturing plant has a 150 MW installed capacity, spread across 40,000 sq ft area in Falta, West Bengal. It manufactures modules for both on grid and off grid applications, across residential, commercial and industrial segments. Vikram Solar modules are both monocrystalline and polycrystalline modules, with outputs ranging from 5 Wp to 315 Wp.

Vikram Solar will now work closely with European partners to enhance its production processes, including optimization of module production technology, cell manufacturing and establishment of a solar academy in India. The company’s decision comes in line with PM Modi’s “Make In India” initiative. As a part of this initiative, the company now intends to include solar cell production in its product portfolio and further enhance the productivity and efficiency of its products.

The different arrangements of Vikram Solar with the European companies are:

• Fraunhofer ISE one of the leading solar research institutes in Germany, will help Vikram Solar in the development and research of solar cell and module processes leading to further optimization. They have also collaborated on establishing a solar academy in India, imparting technical knowledge and practical training in solar energy.
• Vikram Solar also entered another MoU with Meyer Berger a leading solar equipment manufacturer, to provide solar cell and module manufacturing equipment to the company in India.
• Centrotherm another manufacturer of solar cells and equipment have agreed to provide its equipment and cell production expertise to further enhance Vikram Solar’s production and efficiency.

Vikram Solar has plans to expand its module capacity to 350MW by Q2 2015 and 600MW by Q4 2015 from 150 MW currently. The solar cell production capacity was intended to be ~250 MW to start by Q1 2016.

Source: Vikram Solar