Vikram Solar Expands Production
Vikram Solar Commissions Advanced Solar Module Plant in Tamil Nadu, Boosting Domestic Production
Anonymous
Key Points
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Gangaikondan facility is planned to achieve 6 GW of annual module manufacturing capacity as part of a phased rollout.
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An MoU signed with the Tamil Nadu government in 2020 envisaged establishing a 3 GW module manufacturing facility at Gangaikondan.
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The plant employs advanced automation and digital production features, including real-time monitoring, complete module traceability, automated quality inspection, automated material handling, and intelligent grading, sorting, and packaging.
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The site’s module production will span formats such as M10, G12, and G12R, with plans to progressively house module, cell, wafer, and ingot manufacturing on the campus.
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Investors remain cautious: Vikram Solar’s stock has traded near 52-week lows, down about 23% over the last six months and around 22% year-to-date, despite the expansion announcements.
Vikram Solar has commissioned a new 600,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Gangaikondan, Tamil Nadu, and begun producing its first solar modules there, according to PV Tech and PV Magazine. The facility marks the start of an ambitious multi-year plan to build one of India's most vertically integrated solar supply chains.
The plant is already making Hypersol N-Type TOPCon G12R modules rated at 615–640 watts peak, with efficiency of up to 23.69%. The company plans to eventually scale the site to 6 GW of annual module output, PV Magazine reported.
Gangaikondan Plant Built for Scale and Automation
The Gangaikondan facility covers 600,000 square feet and runs on advanced automation. It features real-time monitoring, automated quality inspection, and intelligent grading, sorting, and packaging, according to Solar Bytes. Every module is fully traceable through the production process.
The plant will produce modules in multiple formats, including M10, G12, and G12R. Vikram Solar says it expects the facility to create more than 1,500 skilled jobs. The company signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government back in 2020, initially targeting a 3 GW module plant at this site.
A Phased Roadmap Toward Full Vertical Integration
Vikram Solar is treating Gangaikondan as the cornerstone of a much larger plan. The company aims to add 9 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity by FY2026–27, then another 3 GW by FY2027–28, according to Whales Book. Wafer and ingot production of 12 GW is targeted by FY2029–30.
The goal is to produce modules, cells, wafers, and ingots all on one campus. That would make Gangaikondan a rare fully integrated solar site in India. Vikram Solar already runs about 9.5 GW of module capacity across plants in Falta, Oragadam, and Vallam, PV Tech reported.
Expansion Fits India's Push for Solar Self-Reliance
India has been pushing hard to build a domestic solar supply chain and cut reliance on imported components, mostly from China. Vikram Solar's Gangaikondan plant directly supports that goal. The company says advanced automation will also reduce logistics costs and improve production resilience.
TOPCon — short for Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact — is a newer, more efficient cell technology replacing older designs. Vikram Solar's Hypersol modules use this technology to hit efficiencies above 23%, making them competitive with leading global products, according to PV Magazine.
Stock Slides Even as Factory Doors Open
Despite the expansion news, investors have been cautious. Vikram Solar's stock has traded near its 52-week low, down roughly 23% over the past six months and about 22% year-to-date, according to Whales Book. The shares fell even as the company announced the plant commissioning.
The concern is that the multi-year capacity targets are enormous and expensive. Building out cells, wafers, and ingots alongside modules requires heavy capital spending over many years. Analysts and investors are waiting to see whether Vikram Solar can hit its timelines and manage the costs.
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