Tata Power Managing Director and CEO Praveer Sinha said that the company is looking to finalise the 10 GW wafer and ingot project. According to a PTI report, Sinha stated that the project will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 6,500 crore.
Further, Sinhga said that Tata Power is in discussions with various states and will decide on the location soon. He stated that the company is exploring various locations in states like Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, among others.
“We are looking at the state policies and incentives before finalising the location,” Sinha added.
Tata Power solar panel manufacturing business
Tata Power’s solar manufacturing division makes solar modules and cells. According to the company’s statement, it has a combined production capacity of 4.9 GW. The company stated that its manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu has a 4.3 GW capacity for cells and modules, while its Bengaluru plants produce 650 MW of modules and 500 MW of cells annually.
Setting up a wafer and ingot manufacturing project is highly crucial for Tata Power as it will make the company a complete integrated player in solar manufacturing.
“In January, we would be making some announcement. Meanwhile, we continue to explore potential site for the project,” Sinha said on the timeline of the project.
Additionally, the Tata Group entity is also looking to diversify into the nuclear space. The company will explore setting up small modular reactor (SMR) projects with a capacity of 20-50 megawatts, following the required legal amendments for the entry of private players into the nuclear space.
Difference between solar module, cell, wafer and ingot
In simple terms, the raw silicon is melted down, cooled, and moulded into a cylindrical solid block called an ingot. Further, the ingot is sliced into a paper-thin sheet. This sheet is called a wafer.
Next, the wafer is treated with chemicals and other electrical conductors, and it becomes capable of generating electricity. Thus, finished, a wafer is called a solar cell. At the next step, approximately 72 or 60 solar cells are joined side by side and sandwiched between a backsheet and glass to form a solar panel, also known interchangeably as a solar module.
Tata Power share price
Tata Power’s stock opened at Rs 381.65 on Tuesday. In the last one, the stock has declined 3.4 per cent and about 5 per cent in the last 6 months.