A transformative upswing is underway in India’s renewable energy sector. The prompt and speedy transition to a sustainable future for all of us is being led by India's solar power sector.  As a leading manufacturer of solar panels, ADM Solar is driving this transformation. The company is valued at over 500 crores and has a manufacturing capacity of 800MW, and has announced they will be expanding their business into the largest manufacturing facility in the world, with an additional 2GW of Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) solar panel manufacturing at its Aligarh facility. The new scale will raise its manufacturing capacity to 2.8GW. 

This expansion will include totally automated AI-driven manufacturing that will make solar modules with a potential output of 650 Wp that will be highly efficient. ADM Solar is also entering the e-waste management sector as part of a commitment to circular economy principles. This article explains ADM Solar’s ambitious expansion, its adoption of cutting-edge technology, and how it is relevant to Engineering - Procurement - Construction (EPC) companies, developers, Commercial and Industrial (C&I) consumers, residential consumers, and the broader renewable energy movement in India.

Current Manufacturing Capacity and Business Scale

ADM Solar has the manufacturing capacity of 800 MW and a business valuation of over 500 crores. This financial robustness supports ADM Solar's trailblazing situation in India's solar space, in which it provides high-quality photovoltaic (PV) modules for projects involving residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. It produces reliable monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels suitable for solar projects in any climate. 

ADM Solar's cutting-edge facilities of 50 acres are located in the Delhi NCR. When you multiply those factors by hundreds of engineers, branch offices, and sales agents in India and around the world, ADM Solar generates a robust supply chain that is flexible and can meet the increasing demand of its customers. More importantly, this infrastructure allows ADM Solar to comply with India's Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) initiatives and take advantage of opportunities offered like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

Expansion to 2.8 GW with TOPCon Technology

ADM Solar is expanding from 1.2 GW to 2.8GW with an announcement of 2GW of TOPCon solar panel manufacturing in Aligarh. This is great progress. The TOPCon technology for solar panels, which uses n-type silicon and a tunnel oxide layer, provides better efficiency, lower degradation, and superior temperature performance compared to conventional Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) modules. Panel power outputs can be up to 650 Wp for these bifacial TOPCon panels. Bifacial panels help to optimize energy production by capturing sunlight on both sides of the module, which is ideal for large installations.

Located in Aligarh and covering 50 acres for supporting infrastructure, the facility will push manufacturing to new modern heights. The facility is fully automated with AI-enabled production lines that will improve accuracy and lower defects, as well as increase yield. AI-enabled functions such as defect detection for micro-cracks as well as soldering defects will guarantee that all panels will still conform to ISO standards as well meeting with global recognized standards like BIS and UL. This emphasis on TOPCon technology is allowing ADM Solar to competently compete against international companies that are also moving toward N-type technologies that offer better efficiencies and cost. 

Strategic Importance of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was selected for this expansion because it benefits most from the development of renewable energy in the state. It is supported by the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) and accepts the policies in place to further industrial development and renewable energy development. Particularly, the geographical proximity to other key markets in North India reduces procurement costs and increases efficiencies, complemented by reliable transportation and electricity.

Uttar Pradesh continues to become a major contributor to renewable energy. Recently, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath opened a 70 MW solar project and announced plans to install rooftop solar in 25,000 residences. We see great potential aligned with ADM Solar's vision. The Aligarh facility will improve employment opportunities for locals and increase economic development, as well as position Uttar Pradesh more dominantly in India's solar manufacturing.

AI-Enabled Manufacturing: A Game-Changer

The facility in Aligarh that brought in AI-enabled manufacturing is taking a step forward for the industry. Using AI to monitor defect detection, thermal imaging, and electroluminescence inspections during manufacturing assures that ADM Solar's produced TOPCon modules are of the highest quality. Automated production lines, enabled through advanced robotic process automation, just-in-time (JIT) data analytics, and AI, are also expected to expedite the manufacturing process for every high-wattage 650 Wp module that requires accurate cell alignments and assembly. The AI workflow with production enables increasing yields and decreasing the waste of further materials while still achieving sustainability targets like all global operations aspire towards and that has been seen through other companies like Gautam Solar, which is using AI to increase production efficiency and decrease costs.

Entry into E-Waste Management

ADM Solar’s entrance into e-waste management ethos demonstrates its commitment to sustainability. The solar industry has a lot of e-waste such as broken panels, or decommissioned panels and electronic parts that need to be disposed of. E-waste management and recycling is important and must be done responsibly. Having the e-waste management infrastructure, ADM Solar hopes to create a circular economy, harvesting materials from old panels to be repurposed for manufacturing new panels.

This will satisfy India's  E-Waste Management Rules, 2022, and coincides with sustainability trends throughout the globe. The company's efforts include  eliminating the environmental impact of solar waste and evolving to be a holistic player in the renewable energy sector.

Benefits for EPCs, Developers, C&I, and Residential Consumers

ADM Solar's expansion and innovation represent tremendous opportunities throughout the key chain of solar value:

• EPCs/Developers: The expansion boasts 2.4 GW of total capacity added to back it, especially with the addition of their high-efficiency, 650 Wp TOPCon modules, which deliver EPCs and developers next-generation solar efficiencies and savings. These high-wattage, bifacial panels reduce the total number of modules required for the project, allowing the EPC or developer to lower project installation and land costs. The performance, reliability, and durability of the TOPCon modules, in extremely high-temperature performance environments, guarantee higher energy yields, increasing project potential to collect higher returns on investment (ROI).  Finally, ADM Solar's alignment to ALMM industry standards is a huge, adjudicated benefit in solar with government-endorsed projects in India such as utility-scale solar farms within the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana program.

• Commercial and Industrial Consumers: True for C&I consumers, ADM Solar's TOPCon modules will provide a more efficient energy alternative and improved durability to reduce operating costs, as businesses that boast sustainability are attractive to customers. The large output from solar panels (650 Wp) helps C&I installations maximize energy generation, even in a reduced rooftop footprint, thus aiding the discussion of solar energy adoption for businesses, industries, warehouses, and commercial buildings. The Power degradation level of TOPCon technology will allow C&I businesses enhanced savings. ADM Solar’s e-waste management initiatives are an environmentally preferable option for end-of-life solar panel disposal, along with assisting in a firm's larger social responsibility targets towards sustainability.

• Residential Consumers: Residential consumers receive numerous benefits from the high efficiency conducted in ADM SOLAR's modules and the benefit of integrating energy generation onto compact rooftop spaces that maximize energy output.  The 650 Wp TOPCon panels are being offered to customers who are supportive of a sustainable lifestyle through government schemes (PM Surya Ghar). The value proposition of durable, reliable and consistent renewable energy will yield long-term savings on electricity bills. A focus on the highest quality products and AI-enabled production to ensure residential consumers receive robust, high-performance solar panels consistently. ADM SOLAR's efforts in e-waste location facilitate environmentally responsible disposal of panel recycling.

Impact on India’s Renewable Energy Goals

ADM Solar's activities support India's target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. Their 1.6 GW TOPCon expansion will help with the forecasted installation of 172 GW of solar modules by 2026, according to Mercom India. By committing to TOPCon technology, ADM Solar is pushing the industry to switch from PERC to more efficient N-type modules, which are predicted to be the industry standard and dominant by 2027. As this transition process continues to rapidly transition the industry to N-type modules, ADM Solar will reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) which will allow solar power to be accessible to more consumers. ADM Solar's work in e-waste management will continue to create a sustainable growth strategy while addressing a major gap in the solar value chain.

Conclusion

The expansion of ADM Solar to 2.4 GW with a focus on 650 Wp TOPCon modules, and AI-supported manufacturing, paired with entering into e-waste management, is a major step forward for India's solar industry. The company has a value of over 400 crores and is positioned to provide high-quality, efficient and sustainable solutions to EPCs, developers and contractors, C&I and residential consumers. Based on the unique ability to maximize Aligarh, Orient Solar is delivering innovation while supporting both national renewable energy targets and promoting a green and equitable future for India.