About 800 million people across the world live without adequate access to electricity. Solar decentralized renewable energy (DRE) products continue to be a focal point of electricity access, supporting the underserved areas in developing countries. Traditionally the large-scale manufacturing locations and consumer markets have been in China and Sub-Saharan Africa/South Asia, respectively. However, post-Covid, this structure has been undergoing changes.

India has become a more competitive place for the manufacture of solar lighting products, as supply chain disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the cost of imports. For example, between 2019-20 and 2021-22, there has been an estimated five times increase in freight costs for solar modules imported from China. Industry experts also advise that India has advantages due to its reliable supply chains, shorter lead times, and greater policy and SME support. The subject needed a closer look, and this report is an attempt toward that.

GOGLA and Intellecap have worked on the study titled “Transforming India into a Global Solar DRE Manufacturing Hub: A Study into Market Requirements and Readiness.” The research explores the status of Indian manufacturing for solar and takes a deep dive into various DRE components and products. It also makes recommendations and provides a strategic roadmap for the development of greater DRE product assembly and manufacturing in India.