Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd will establish a 10 GW greenfield ingot and wafer manufacturing facility in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh with an outlay of more than Rs 6,600 crore. The State Investment Promotion Board cleared the decision and cleared an allotment of 200 acres at Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited’s IFFCO Kisan Special Economic Zone.
The official press release said, “Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) will establish a greenfield 10 GW ingot and wafer manufacturing facility at Nellore district with an investment of Rs 6,675 crore. The project will be the largest ingot and wafer manufacturing facility in the country.”
According to the release, the project will come up in two phases, with 120 acres being set apart for the first phase and 80 acres for future expansion. This plant will produce ingots and wafers; critical inputs for solar cells, modules, and semiconductor applications; aligning with the Centre’s push to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence.
The project will provide employment to around 1,000 people directly, apart from the jobs that will be created in the construction sector. TPREL will also set up a 200 MW captive renewable energy plant as a part of its clean energy pledge to provide renewable energy to its manufacturing unit. According to a statement from the government, Andhra Pradesh offered ready industrial lands, strong infrastructure, port access, and guaranteed green power supplies as attractive locations for the investment.
The Nellore district is coming up as a solar manufacturing hub, with many renewable energy firms planning and implementing large solar projects there. Commenting on the decision, State IT Minister Nara Lokesh stated, ‘This is a result of investor confidence in the State of Andhra Pradesh.’ It is a big vote of confidence in the state’s policies, infrastructure readiness, and commitment to the manufacture of clean energy, he further stated. The project would provide high-quality jobs, enhance the value chain for PV manufacturing in the country, and help drive the energy transition in India, he said.
