Integrated c-Si Solar Polysilicon to Module Plant by BHEL,BEL India's Two Largest Capital Goods Government Companies JV to be set up

Solar Power in India is increasing at a rapid pace and will become one of the biggest energy industries in the next decade as falling costs of solar energy and India’s rising demand makes it a perfect match.Solar Companies in India are constanly growing by the day as firms rush in to take advantage of the vast investment and profit potential in India’s Solar Energy Market.BHEL which is India’s largest Capitals Good Company has big solar ambitions.BHEL has strong capabilities in the field of making electricity generating equipment.Extending these capabilities in the field of solar power generation is a natural extension.It is following the JV route with various other Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) like HPCL,BEL and IOC to build power plants and solar equipment factories in the country.Most of these JVs have been dormant till now but the JV with BEL is now looking to move on.The JV is scouting for sites to build a 250 MW integrated c-Si Solar Factory which will also have India’s first polysilicon and wafer manufacturing operations.Note India has a large capacity of solar cells and modules but does not have a commercial solar wafer or poly plant which are essential raw materials for making Solar Panels.Till now Solar Panels in India are made from imported Solar Wafers from companies like LDK,GCL,REC,Solarworld and others.There are a few private companies who are looking to set up upstream manufacturing in solar as well.Note there are other Indian government owned PSUs which too are looking to enter Solar Energy Industry as well

BHEL recently signed a JV with Spanish giant Abengoa  to manufacture components for Solar Thermal Plants.Note Solar Thermal in India has got solid government backing on par with Solar PV.A number of Solar Thermal Plants are being built in India and this JV might target supplying equipment to these companies.

BEL established by the Indian Government to meet the specialised electronic needs of the Indian defence services is a  $3 billion company with presence in making Solar Powered LED-Based Traffic Signal Lights.They have also shortlisted two locations in Karnataka and one in Andhra Pradesh for setting up the plant at an investment of Rs 2,000 crore, a top BHEL official said.Presently, BEL exports solar cells to Germany, France and Italy among others. BHEL also exports solar modules to countries such as Germany, Australia and Italy.