Premier Energies launches 400 MW solar cell plant in Telangana

Clean energy company Premier Energies has commissioned a 400-megawatt (MW) solar cell manufacturing facility in Maheshwaram in Ranga Reddy district, Telangana , as part of its Rs 11,000-crore expansion plan to strengthen India’s domestic solar supply chain.

A solar cell facility (or plant) is a factory where solar cells, the individual units that convert sunlight into electricity, are manufactured . These cells are then combined into solar panels (modules) , which are installed in solar power plants, rooftops, or other setups to generate electricity . The facility itself does not generate electricity ; it produces the cells that later generate power.

Think of it like a car factory : the factory doesn’t drive the cars itself, it produces them, which are then used by people. Similarly, a solar cell facility produces the “power-generating units.”

Even though the factory doesn’t produce electricity directly, its capacity is expressed in MW (megawatts). 1 MW = 1 million watts , a standard unit of power. If a facility can manufacture enough solar cells to create panels that generate 400 MW of electricity under sunlight , it is said to have a 400 MW manufacturing capacity . In other words, the MW figure reflects the total potential electricity output of the solar panels that can be made in a year , not electricity produced by the factory itself.

The Hyderabad-based firm said the new facility, commissioned on January 22, 2026 , produces mono PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell) solar cells , a high-efficiency technology widely used in solar panels. With this addition, Premier Energies’ solar cell manufacturing capacity has increased from 3.2 GW to 3.6 GW , while its module manufacturing capacity remains at 5.1 GW at nearby Hyderabad facilities.

The expansion is part of the company’s strategy to more than double annual solar cell and module capacities to 10.6 GW and 11.1 GW, respectively, by 2028 , catering to growing domestic demand. Premier Energies plans to further enter the ingot and wafer production space , which would make it one of the largest integrated renewable energy equipment manufacturers outside China and improve control and reliability across the value chain.

The Rs 11,000-crore expansion is being funded through a combination of Rs 1,300 crore raised via its IPO last year , a Rs 2,200-crore debt tie-up with Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) , and internal accruals.

Industry experts said the move aligns with the government’s push to boost domestic solar manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports, strengthening India’s renewable energy ecosystem and contributing to energy security.

Vinay Rustagi, Chief Business Officer at Premier Energies, said, “By bringing ingot and wafer production in-house, we aim to improve supply chain visibility and ensure reliable solar panel operations for domestic projects.”

The commissioning of this facility marks a significant step in India’s goal to expand renewable energy capacity while nurturing a robust domestic solar manufacturing sector .