India is no longer just installing solar panels - it is building them.
Solar cell manufacturing in India has undergone a dramatic transformation over the last five years. Backed by the PLI scheme, ALMM mandates, and rising domestic demand, India is rapidly becoming one of the world's most significant solar cell production hubs.
For solar developers, EPC contractors, and procurement managers, understanding how solar cells are manufactured - and which companies are leading this shift - is essential for making the right sourcing decisions in 2026.
What is solar cell manufacturing?
Solar cell manufacturing is the industrial process of transforming raw silicon into photovoltaic (PV) cells - the fundamental units that convert sunlight into electricity.
The efficiency of a solar cell depends on the quality of silicon, the precision of manufacturing steps, and the cell architecture used. In 2026, the industry-leading architecture is
N-type TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact), delivering module efficiencies of 22–25% and eliminating the performance losses seen in older P-type PERC technology.
Solar cell production in India: where the industry stands
As of January 2026, India's cumulative installed solar capacity stands at
140.60 GW, with annual additions consistently exceeding 30 GW. However, domestic solar cell manufacturing capacity is approximately
25.2 GW - well below annual installation demand, creating a structural supply gap that India has been working aggressively to close.
Key milestones driven by the
PLI scheme:
- 18.5 GW of solar module capacity enabled by June 2025
- 9.7 GW of domestic cell capacity enabled by June 2025
- 60 GW of cell capacity expected by FY 2027
The single most transformative policy accelerating this growth is the
ALMM List-II mandate for solar cells, effective from June 2026. All government-backed projects - including SECI and NTPC tenders - must now source cells domestically. This mandate is the biggest demand driver for solar cell manufacturing companies in India in 2026.
(Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)
How solar cell manufacturing process work
The solar cell manufacturing process transforms raw silicon into a finished photovoltaic cell through precision steps. Here is the complete solar cell manufacturing process for N-type TOPCon cells - the technology powering India's solar future:
Step 1: Silicon purification
Raw silicon from quartz sand is refined using the Siemens process into ultra-pure polysilicon (99.9999% purity). This is the foundational raw material that determines cell conversion efficiency. India currently imports most of its polysilicon - developing domestic upstream capacity remains the next frontier.
Step 2: Ingot formation
Purified polysilicon is melted and grown into cylindrical single-crystal ingots using the
Czochralski (CZ) process. For N-type TOPCon cells, phosphorus-doped N-type silicon ingots are used - eliminating the boron-oxygen defects responsible for Light Induced Degradation (LID) in older PERC technology.
Step 3: Wafer slicing
Ingots are sliced into ultra-thin wafers (150–180 microns) using diamond wire saws. Modern Indian solar cell manufacturing uses two key wafer formats:
- M10 (182mm) - current mainstream format
- G12 / G12R (210mm) - next-generation format enabling 700W+ modules
Step 4: Surface texturing
Wafers undergo chemical texturing using KOH or NaOH solutions, creating microscopic pyramid structures on the surface. This reduces light reflection from ~30% to under 10% - significantly increasing the light available for energy conversion.
Step 5: Doping - creating the P-N junction
Dopant elements are introduced into the silicon wafer to create the P-N junction - the electric field that separates electrons and holes generated by sunlight. N-type TOPCon cells use a boron-doped front emitter on a phosphorus-doped N-type base, delivering superior long-term stability and zero LID.
Step 6: Anti-reflective coating
A silicon nitride (SiNx) layer is deposited using PECVD, reducing surface reflection to under 3% and giving cells their characteristic dark blue or black appearance.
Step 7: TOPCon layer deposition
This is the defining step of N-type TOPCon manufacturing:
- An ultra-thin tunnel oxide layer (1–2 nm SiO₂) is grown on the rear of the wafer through thermal oxidation at 800–1200°C
- A doped polysilicon layer is deposited over the tunnel oxide using LPCVD or PECVD
This structure passivates the rear surface, suppressing electron recombination - the primary cause of energy loss - and pushing cell efficiency to levels unreachable by PERC.
Step 8: Metallisation
Metal contacts are screen-printed on front and rear surfaces to collect generated electrons. Modern TOPCon cells use
Multi-Busbar (MBB) technology - 9 to 12+ thin wire busbars replace the traditional 3–5 wide busbars, reducing silver use and improving current collection by 0.3–0.5%.
Step 9: Firing
Cells pass through a high-temperature belt furnace at ~800–900°C, sintering the metal contacts into silicon and completing electrical connections.
Step 10: Testing and sorting
Every cell is tested under a solar simulator at Standard Test Conditions (1000 W/m², 25°C).
Electroluminescence (EL) testing detects micro-cracks and internal defects invisible to the naked eye. Cells are sorted by efficiency bin before module assembly.
Solar cell production in India: leading manufacturers (2026)
India's solar cell production landscape is expanding rapidly, with both established players and new entrants investing in N-type TOPCon G12 cell lines. Here are the leading solar cell manufacturing companies in India in 2026:
1. Waaree Energies
Operates 5.4 GWp of cell capacity across multiple sites in Gujarat, with an additional 5.4 GW cell plant under construction, making it one of the largest solar cell manufacturers in India.
2. Premier Energies
Among the first Indian manufacturers to produce G12R TOPCon cells domestically, giving it a significant technological advantage in premium module production.
3. Adani Solar
One of only two Indian manufacturers producing G12R cells as of early 2026, operating from its integrated facility in Gujarat.
4. Tata Power Solar
Operates an integrated cell and module facility combining Mono-PERC bifacial and N-type TOPCon technologies with advanced robotics and real-time data monitoring.
5. Vikram Solar
Expanding into dedicated TOPCon cell manufacturing lines under the PLI scheme.
6. Credence Solar
Manufacturing N-type TOPCon solar cells at a dedicated
2 GW G12 facility in Padadhari, Rajkot, Gujarat - directly integrated with a 2.2 GW module manufacturing line.
Credence Solar: India's G12 TOPCon solar cell manufacturer
At Credence Solar, we are one of India's dedicated
N-type TOPCon solar cell manufacturing companies, delivering the technology and scale India's solar industry demands.
2 GW G12 solar cell manufacturing facility
Our solar cell manufacturing facility in
Padadhari, Rajkot, Gujarat is built around the G12 wafer format and N-type TOPCon architecture - directly integrated with our
2.2 GW module manufacturing line for complete vertical integration.
Key highlights:
- G12 format (210mm wafer) - enables module production above 700W, lowering BOS costs
- N-type TOPCon - 24%+ cell efficiency, zero LID, 0.25–0.40% annual degradation
- ALMM-listed - fully compliant for all government tenders from June 2026
- Triple EL Testing - every cell inspected at three production stages
- Vertically integrated - cell-to-module quality control under one roof
Conclusion
India's solar cell manufacturing industry is at an inflection point. ALMM-II mandates, PLI incentives, and technology leadership in N-type TOPCon are reshaping India's solar supply chain - creating both a policy imperative and a commercial opportunity for domestic solar cell manufacturers.
For buyers and developers, ALMM-compliant, vertically integrated manufacturers like Credence Solar represent the optimal combination of performance, compliance, and supply chain security in 2026.
Ready to source India's best N-type TOPCon solar panels?
Frequently asked questions
What are the main steps in solar cell manufacturing?
The key solar cell manufacturing steps are: silicon purification → ingot formation → wafer slicing → surface texturing → doping → anti-reflective coating → TOPCon layer deposition → metallisation → firing → EL testing and sorting.
What is solar cell production capacity in India?
India's installed solar cell manufacturing capacity is approximately 25.2 GW as of 2026. Under the PLI scheme, domestic cell capacity is projected to reach 60 GW by FY 2027.
What is ALMM-II and why does it matter?
ALMM List-II mandates that all government-backed solar projects source cells domestically from June 2026. This eliminates imported cells from public sector project eligibility and creates guaranteed demand for Indian solar cell manufacturers.
Which are the leading solar cell manufacturing companies in India?
Leading solar cells manufacturers in India include Waaree Energies, Premier Energies, Adani Solar, Tata Power Solar, Vikram Solar, and Credence Solar - all investing in N-type TOPCon G12 cell lines.
