Tata BP Solar expands India manufacturing capacity

In a clear demonstration of its commitment to India and the growth of the solar energy market, Tata BP Solar expands by taking its total cell capacity to 84 MW with module capacity at 125MW. A joint venture between BP Solar and Tata Power, it has added a new production line of 32 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells to its existing cell capacity of 52 MW, at its plant in Bangalore. This results in an expansion of 62 per cent in its manufacturing capacity.

The company manufactures high quality, low-cost crystalline silicon cells (both mono- and multi-crystalline) and solar modules used to generate electricity from sunlight. Tata BP Solar cells and modules are integrated into solar products such as home lighting systems, street lights, and telecommunication towers or connected to the electricity grid to export the power generated directly from solar plants on rooftops or in open fields.

BP Solar CEO, Reyad Fezzani, commented," Tata BP Solar has an unrivalled record of profitable growth over 20 years. Global demand for solar is expected to grow over 80 per cent in 2010, and in India it is likely to grow fivefold to 150MW. In the longer term the Indian market is poised to become a world-scale market by 2022 stimulated by the supportive policies announced by the Government of India."

Tata Power managing director, Menon added, "In view of the huge demand supply gap in the power sector in India, large scale use of solar energy is imperative, especially given the abundant sunshine available all over the country throughout the year. The key to growing the mass market is cost reduction which will not happen without achieving large-scale supply. Tata BP Solar is building some of India's largest solar plants. Today's development is a strong step in assuring supply to meet new opportunities coming up in India."

Tata BP Solar CEO, Subramanya said, "After more than two decades of growing the Indian market in the off-grid mode, Tata BP Solar is ready with the additional cells capacity to service the new market opening up in India in the context of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission." The mission has set a target of generating 20,000MW of solar power by 2022 and another 2,000MW of off-grid solar installations. He added, "We are committed to contribute to the success of India's solar mission by our quality products and solutions including our market leading guarantee of 85 per cent power output from our solar panels even at the end of 25 years."