J&K gets mega solar boost with Grew Energy’s Rs 4500 Cr plant

Srinagar, May 10:  In a major boost for renewable energy in Jammu and Kashmir, solar company Grew Energy has announced plans to invest a massive Rs 4500 crore to set up a 3.2 gigawatt (GW) solar module manufacturing facility in the Kathua district of J&K.

The plant will come up over an area of 640 kanal (80 acres).

It will have an annual production capacity of 3.2 GW of high-efficiency solar modules and 2.8 GW of ingots, wafers and cells, key components in solar manufacturing.

"Grew Energy will set up a 3.2 GW capacity manufacturing facility in J&K with an investment of Rs 4500 crore. Upon completion, the facility will have an annual capacity of producing 3.2 GW high-efficiency modules and 2.8 GW ingots, wafers, and cells,” the company said in a statement.

According to media reports, CEO and Director of Grew Energy, Vinay Thadani said that the project would create much-needed employment opportunities for the local population.

“With this Kathua facility and our existing 2.8 GW module plant in Jaipur, Grew will achieve a total of 6 GW manufacturing capacity for modules and 2.8 GW for solar components by fiscal year 2025," he said.

The Kathua facility will be Grew Energy's first renewable energy manufacturing unit in J&K.

The company says the plant will adhere to international standards and help meet the growing demand for solar energy domestically and globally as the world transitions to cleaner power sources.

Founded in 2022, GREW Energy Pvt Ltd is one of the leading solar companies in India, performing as a flagship venture of the Chiripal Group.

Chiripal Renewable Energy Private Limited (CREPL) with its holding brand GREW is committed to leading the renewable energy transition in India by accelerating consistent growth determined by sustainability, reliability, and responsibility.

According to the company’s website, it reinforces its commitment towards achieving energy independence by strengthening the renewable infrastructure to develop India as the next renewable superpower.

This massive investment is a significant milestone for J&K’s renewable energy ambitions and is expected to position J&K as an emerging solar manufacturing hub in India.

The investment comes at a crucial time as J&K has emerged as a laggard in India's solar power race, harnessing a mere 53 megawatts (MW) of solar energy out of the country's total installed capacity of 72,018 MW as of November 2023, according to government data.

Despite having a vast potential for solar power generation, J&K has severely underutilised this renewable resource.

This concerning trend has led to the union territory relying on electricity purchases that burden its exchequer.

Grew Energy’s Rs 4500 crore investment to establish the 3.2 GW plant in Kathua's 640 kanal site could prove to be a pivotal move in addressing this shortcoming.

This concerning trend, highlighted by official figures from the Union Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy as of November 2023, underscores a significant gap in J&K’s adoption of solar energy.

This stark under-utilisation is particularly notable against the backdrop of India's commendable progress as a global leader in solar power.

While the nation has made significant strides in the realm of renewable energy, J&K appears to be missing out on the solar revolution, with its power purchases contributing to a drain on its exchequer.