In late September, there were three further announcements, concerning: Vavasi Telegence, which plans to invest Rs.. 39,000 crore for a solar PV and polysilicon unit; EPV Solar, which will invest Rs.. 4,000 crore for a solar PV unit; and Lanco Solar, which will invest Rs.. 12,938 crore for a solar PV and polysilicon unit.

In 2009, approximately 130MW of shipments are projected, compared with approximately 30MW in 2008.

On the demand side, India has a long-term goal of generating 10 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2032. In early 2008, India instituted a feed-in tariff for solar PV and/or thermal electricity generation (i.e. ~$0.30/kWhr for up to 75 percent of solar PV output) at the national level as a supplement to more modest local incentive programs. The feed-in tariff is subject to annual digressions and is slated to be in force for ten years. Regional caps will limit total installations in a given year, but should drive solid percentage growth in 2008, with accelerating growth through 2010.

The new incentive scheme for solar power plants in January 2008 could further enable rapid market growth in the coming years. For power producers, a generation-based subsidy is available up to Rs.. 12/kWh from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in addition to the price paid by a state utility for 10 years.

With state utilities mandated to buy energy from solar power plants, several state electricity regulatory boards are setting up preferential tariff structures. Among the states that already have proposals in place are Rajasthan (Rs.15.6 per kWhr proposed), West Bengal (Rs.12.5  per kWhr proposed), Punjab (Rs. 8.93  per kWhr), with several other states exploring such a possibility.

Aside from the feed-in tariffs, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) provides revolving fund to financing and leasing companies offering affordable credit for the purchase of solar PV systems in India. Additional incentives include, 80 percent accelerated depreciation, lower import duties on raw materials, and excise duty exemption on certain devices.

Role of SEMI PV Group
SEMI is the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries. Since its inception in 1970, SEMI has been helping members explore and develop new markets for their products and services. SEMI has helped facilitate the creation of new manufacturing regions by providing advice and council, facilitating collaborations, organizing trade missions and trade events, and other activities necessary to integrate market forces, governmental economic policy, education and human capital programs, and financial support.

As the semiconductor industry expanded globally and new manufacturing centers were established throughout the world, SEMI successively opened offices in Japan, Europe, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and China to support introduction to these vital new market regions. In each one of these regions, SEMI has organized SEMICON expositions, to bring buyers, suppliers and other industry constituents together, and facilitate industry growth.

With the input and guidance of the SEMI Board of Directors and Global and Regional PV Advisory Committees in North America, Asia and Europe, the SEMI PV Group has prepared a White Paper, “The Perfect Industry: The Race to Excellence in PV Manufacturing”.

This describes the ideal industry characteristics for the high-growth PV industry and describes both current and potential SEMI policies, program and initiatives designed to achieve them.  By defining and communicating ideal or perfect industry end-states, equipment and materials suppliers along with cell and module manufacturers can more effectively prioritize industry-wide initiatives.

The White Paper outlines four attributes of the perfect industry: long-term growth; sustained profitability; environmental excellence, and global scope. Each of these attributes is examined to explain and understand their role in the industry’s formation, and to help describe the necessary industry actions required to achieve the greatest impact.

The SEMI PV Group believes that helping grow and facilitate the global market for PV is essential to its mission and that India will play a vital role.  Following a path that proved successful in the semiconductor and display industries, the SEMI PV Group believes that for the industry to achieve long-term growth, open markets and a global supply chain supported by global standards will be required.

A sustainable industry committed to long term, profitable growth industry will also be one with harmonized standards for environmental, health and safety standards and guidelines that yield high quality, low-cost products from any manufacturing location in the world. Unlike semiconductors, and virtually any other industrial segment, the importance of PV industry goes beyond the economic well-being of its participants. The production of clean, renewable energy is of vital importance to every human being on the planet.

The White Paper, “The Perfect Industry: The Race to Excellence in PV Manufacturing,” may be downloaded in PDF format from the following URL: www.pvgroup.org/perfect.

The SEMI PV Group was established in January 2008 to enhance support to members serving the crystalline and thin film photovoltaic (PV) supply chains. Members of the PV Group provide the essential equipment, materials and services necessary to produce clean, renewable energy from photovoltaic technologies. The PV Group is committed to lowering costs for PV energy and for expanding the growth and profitability of SEMI members serving this essential industry.