Solar PV cells manufactured using ‘blue wafers’ no longer to be classified as domestically manufactured cells: MNRE

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recently issued a clarification stating that solar PV cells manufactured using diffused silicon wafers or blue wafers shall not be considered domestically manufactured solar PV cells, and hence, would not qualify for MNRE’s schemes/programmes. This decision can be expected to significantly reduce the country’s dependence on foreign imports and establish India as a prominent manufacturing hub of solar products. The move can also help in reducing initial costs associated with solar PV systems and improve its adoption in the country.

In its statement, the Ministry noted that many of MNRE’s flagship programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme mandate the use of domestically manufactured solar PV cells. Despite the mandate, it was noticed that some manufacturers were using imported semi-processed PV cells or blue wafers as raw materials to manufacture solar PV cells.

Defining the criteria to be considered in the category of domestically manufactured cells, MNRE stated that “A solar PV cell shall be considered to be domestically manufactured only if the same has been manufactured in India using un-diffused silicon wafers (generally called ‘black wafers’).”


The order further clarifies that apart from being manufactured from un-diffused silicon wafers that can be classified under ‘Customs Tariff Head 3818’, all the steps/processes involved in the manufacturing of the solar panel should have been undertaken in India. Adherence to these rules would be obligatory for any solar PV cell to be recognized as domestically manufactured, stated MNRE in the order.

In addition, the directive also states that “The solar PV cell manufacturing facility required to be set-up under Solar Energy Corporation of India’s (SECI) Manufacturing-Linked-PPA initiative should manufacture solar PV cells from undiffused wafers, as explained above.”

It is to be noted that all the mentioned regulations shall be applicable to all the MNRE schemes/programmes wherein the use of domestically manufactured solar PV cells and solar PV modules is mandatory, and also to the Manufacturing-Linked-PPA initiative of SECI.

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