Indian Solar Energy Market sees entry of DuPont Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Modules with Wipro

Indian Solar Energy Market has seen the entry of many foreign companies eager to tap this huge opportunity.This list of foreign solar companies  in India keeps growing on a daily basis with both startups like Abound and large companies like First Solar,Suntech making India as an integral part of their global growth strategy.DuPont the global chemicals giant too has entered the solar energy industry in partnership with Wipro EcoEnergy.DuPont Apollo will supply Wipro with its Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels which will be used in the grid projects.Note a number of Joint Ventures in Indian solar industry have been recently formed.

DuPont Apollo

DuPont Apollo is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DuPont started a  50 MW  thin-film photovoltaic module manufacturing facility at Shenzen in 2010. DuPont Apollo is focused on the China domestic market but seems like that they are not getting too much traction in the hyper competitive Chinese market and now trying its hand in the Indian market where solar manufacturing industry is not too competitive.

Note India is a good market for solar thin film panels because of the high temperature which is suitable for thin film technology.A large number of ground mounted solar projects are being set up in India spurred by state and federal incentives.This provides a good market for solar thin film panels whose prices have nearly touched $1/watt in the international markets due to oversupply.Note DuPont is not a big name in solar panel manufacturing but like other small time solar companies like Advent Solar is trying to establish a beachhead in the growing India solar market.

Wipro Solar Business

Wipro is known mainly for its IT business in which it ranks third in India after Infosys and TCS.The company also has interests in  the Indian FMCG sector,lighting etc.Wipro decided to enter the solar installation business in 2008 through a subsidiary Wipro EcoEnergy.The company has not announced any big solar projects till now nor has it won any solar plant tenders under JNNSM.

DuPont Apollo, Wipro EcoEnergy ink film supply agreement

Hong Kong-based DuPont Apollo Ltd has entered into a strategic supply agreement with Wipro EcoEnergy, a part of India’s Wipro Ltd, to supply high- performance silicon-based thin film to the latter’s upcoming grid-based solar power projects.Under the terms of this supply agreement, DuPont Apollo will provide Wipro EcoEnergy with thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules. The first phase of the supply agreement will be completed by first quarter of 2012.The two companies, however, did not disclose the financials invloved in the agreement.