In a landmark move for India's renewable energy sector, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) has announced a massive investment to establish the country's largest facility for manufacturing critical solar components. The project promises to significantly strengthen the domestic supply chain for solar and semiconductor industries.
A Mega Investment in Green Manufacturing
Tata Power Renewable Energy will invest a substantial ₹6,675 crore to set up a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. The facility, which will be a greenfield project, is designed to produce 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar ingots and wafers annually. These components are essential building blocks for solar cells, modules, and various semiconductor applications.
The proposal received official clearance from the Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) on Tuesday. The board meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, signaling high-level government support for the initiative.
Strategic Location and Project Details
The manufacturing hub will be developed within the IFFCO Kisan Special Economic Zone. The state government has allocated 200 acres of land specifically for this venture. The initial phase will utilize 120 acres, with an additional 80 acres reserved for future expansion, as confirmed by Nellore Member of Parliament, Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy.
This strategic location was chosen due to Andhra Pradesh's compelling advantages for large-scale industry. Officials highlighted the state's ready-to-use industrial land, robust infrastructure, excellent port connectivity, and reliable access to green power as key factors that attracted Tata Group's investment.
Boosting Jobs and Energy Independence
The economic impact of the project is expected to be substantial. It is projected to create approximately 1,000 direct employment opportunities, along with a significant number of indirect jobs during the construction phase and through allied activities. This aligns with the broader national goals of job creation and skill development in the advanced manufacturing sector.
In line with its commitment to clean energy, TPREL will also establish a 200-megawatt captive green power plant to supply renewable electricity to the manufacturing facility, ensuring the production process itself has a lower carbon footprint.
Andhra Pradesh's IT and Electronics Minister, Nara Lokesh, welcomed the investment, stating it reflects strong confidence in the state's policy stability and infrastructure readiness. He emphasized that the project would cement Andhra Pradesh's reputation as a leading, investor-friendly destination and contribute meaningfully to India's energy transition goals.
This investment marks TPREL's first manufacturing foray into Andhra Pradesh and is seen as a major step in reducing India's dependence on imports for critical solar components, bolstering the nation's Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in the renewable energy space.
