India’s Solar Imports Could Surge
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

India’s Solar Imports Could Surge

India’s ambition to meet its 2030 renewable energy targets could result in a significant surge in solar equipment imports, potentially reaching $30 billion per year, according to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). As India ramps up its efforts to expand solar energy capacity, the country may become heavily reliant on imported solar panels, cells, and related components to meet the growing demand for renewable energy infrastructure.

The report highlights that while India aims to become a global leader in renewable energy, domestic production of solar equipment has not kept pace with its ambitious targets. The increasing need to meet energy demand through green alternatives, coupled with rising investments in solar power projects, is expected to drive up imports of solar technology from countries such as China, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where production costs are lower.

India’s government has set a target of achieving 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with solar power expected to play a crucial role. However, the domestic solar manufacturing industry currently lacks the scale and capacity required to meet the country’s growing energy needs, leading to a reliance on imports. This situation could present challenges for India’s goal of self-reliance in the renewable energy sector.

The increase in solar imports also raises concerns about trade imbalances and the potential impact on India's local manufacturing ecosystem. Policymakers may need to implement supportive measures, such as incentivizing local manufacturing and improving supply chain efficiency, to reduce the dependence on imports and foster the growth of the domestic solar industry.

As India continues its journey toward meeting its renewable energy goals, the balance between expanding solar capacity and fostering homegrown solar manufacturing will be key to ensuring sustainable and long-term energy security. The projected $30 billion annual import figure underscores the urgency of addressing this challenge while accelerating the transition to clean energy sources.

India’s ambition to meet its 2030 renewable energy targets could result in a significant surge in solar equipment imports, potentially reaching $30 billion per year, according to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). As India ramps up its efforts to expand solar energy capacity, the country may become heavily reliant on imported solar panels, cells, and related components to meet the growing demand for renewable energy infrastructure. The report highlights that while India aims to become a global leader in renewable energy, domestic production of solar equipment has not kept pace with its ambitious targets. The increasing need to meet energy demand through green alternatives, coupled with rising investments in solar power projects, is expected to drive up imports of solar technology from countries such as China, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where production costs are lower. India’s government has set a target of achieving 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with solar power expected to play a crucial role. However, the domestic solar manufacturing industry currently lacks the scale and capacity required to meet the country’s growing energy needs, leading to a reliance on imports. This situation could present challenges for India’s goal of self-reliance in the renewable energy sector. The increase in solar imports also raises concerns about trade imbalances and the potential impact on India's local manufacturing ecosystem. Policymakers may need to implement supportive measures, such as incentivizing local manufacturing and improving supply chain efficiency, to reduce the dependence on imports and foster the growth of the domestic solar industry. As India continues its journey toward meeting its renewable energy goals, the balance between expanding solar capacity and fostering homegrown solar manufacturing will be key to ensuring sustainable and long-term energy security. The projected $30 billion annual import figure underscores the urgency of addressing this challenge while accelerating the transition to clean energy sources.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Next Story
Technology

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?