Photovoltaics Semiconductor India
India currently generates around 1750 MW Indian company, Moser Baer have invested belittle the wonderful benefits to small
power through solar energy but the into the Indian PV market stronger than communities such projects bring but
country’s yearly demand is currently around anyone else with multiple projects planned highlights the lack of a cohesive national
130 000 MW. The potential for growth is along the entire value chain. These include integration plan lacking in the country.
not lost on the regional governments with silicon and thin film manufacturing facilities
the Tamil Nadu government announcing its as well as international acquisitions and The changing of direction of the
intention of setting up a 10Mw solar power stakes in companies along the entire food Semiconductor Policy in the first twelve
plant. The state government has invited the chain from the USA to Slovenia ensuring months damaged India’s reputation for
private sector to join them in developing long term reliability of materials and many players in high tech manufacturing.
renewable energy sources to the region. infrastructure. Involvement of companies There are still companies cautious about
This is typical of the PV activity developing such as Moser Baer and Tata’s sets a strong some ventures in the region as they are
in India with a number of projects aimed at scenario for growth and success for India in unsure whether the playing fields offered
providing all energy needs for a town or this burgeoning market. will stay the same. This will not impact on
development. A number are specifically the current PV boom but may haunt the
aimed at the poorer members of society The word of caution region later when the move to
demonstrating the positive broader social India averages 300 days of sunshine in most semiconductor manufacturing begins in
outcomes possible. parts of the country and the development India. It will be much more difficult for
costs of PV energy have reduced and there India to develop an indigenous
One of the most ambitious projects on the is wide availability of tools and processes to semiconductor manufacturing industry
table is the plans for an ‘Integrated Solar cost effectively build PV devices. India has without the assistance of current
City’ project that will see a city develop a a strong history of technical achievements manufacturers than it will be for PV.
complete manufacturing capacity from raw and has a strong education system that
material to end product for their own needs, readily meets the needs of high tech India needs to develop a strategic national
reducing energy costs by an estimated 70%. manufacturing. India is on the crest of an plan that has the backing of all the regions
The US based Clinton foundation has been economic wave at the present as the country to integrate renewable energy sources into
talking with the Gujarat government on rapidly expands its horizons and capacities the current national energy grid. Not as easy
what could become the biggest solar and has had all the ingredients as a world as imagined in the world’s largest
powered project in the world. The leading PV country for more than a decade. democracy but vital if the country is not to
foundation has a huge supply of funds for be cut out completely from the competitive
such projects and is backed by some of the Unfortunately the opportunities have not blood bath that is bound to occur in the next
biggest companies in the world. The been taken before and it seems likely that few years in the global PV industry.
Foundation is also in talks with the current extraordinary growth would not The truth is that there an amazing number
governments of Andhra Pradesh and have occurred without the auspice of a of companies and countries attempting to
Rajasthan for setting up solar power Government Policy that was initially take advantage of this growing market. The
projects. This will only improve the designed to encourage growth in another global demand for solar technology was
likelihood of success for the Indian PV type of manufacturing. At present the around US$2 billion in 2003 and then by
market. Semiconductor Policy does not seem tot be 2006 had jumped to US$15 billion. By
appropriate name for the initiative that 2015 this is expected to rise to US$100
There are a number of large PV projects in although has missed its initial remit has billion. The other fact is that there are a
the planning around India and one of the encouraged the country’s top companies to number of competing technologies trying to
country’s biggest companies, Tata have be involved in photovoltaics. Prior to the be the preferred style of manufacturing.
announced plans to develop 1000 MW of policy the country had done little to tap into
power using renewable technologies with the PV potential at hand. It has mainly At present the jury is out on what is
200 MW coming form PV sources. The being isolated villages with limited expected to be the predominant
company plans to build a PV cell factory infrastructure that have benefited from PV manufacturing type and there are a number
and already has links to multi national activity as well as around 55, 000 street of developments around the globe on
energy company BP Solar. Another large lights across the country. This is not to alternative manufacturing such as
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www.semiconductor-india.com | Autumn 2008
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