Vikram Solar Targets December Production Start at 9 GW TOPCon Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility in Tamil Nadu, India

Vikram Solar said it will begin production at its 9 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Gangaikondan, Tamil Nadu, in December 2026, with the full capacity scheduled to be commissioned in phases thereafter.

The announcement was made on Friday, according to a company release. The facility, located at SIPCOT Industrial Park in the Tirunelveli district, will manufacture N-type TOPCon solar cells.

Second Phase of an Integrated Campus

The project marks the second phase of Vikram Solar's integration roadmap at Gangaikondan, where the company is developing an integrated manufacturing campus.

The cell plant is being developed through VSL Green Power Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vikram Solar, on a nearly 200-acre integrated campus. The campus already houses a 6 GW solar module manufacturing plant, which was inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu chief minister in August 2026.

The next phase involves a 9 GW ingot-and-wafer facility, which has received board approval and is targeted for FY29. Once completed, the campus is expected to manufacture ingots, wafers, cells, and modules at a single location.

At full capacity, the cell plant is expected to supply high-efficiency TOPCon cells for the majority of Vikram Solar's module production.

Reducing Reliance on Imported Cells

The company said the facility would address its dependence on imported solar cells and support the production of modules made in India from cells to frames.

"Indian module makers, including us, have built their businesses around imported cells. Gangaikondan ends that for Vikram Solar," said Chairman and Managing Director Gyanesh Chaudhary.

He described the December production start as a key step in the company's integration roadmap.

Planned Capacity Expansion and Market Applications

The cell capacity is planned to expand to 12 GW as the company advances its integrated manufacturing roadmap.

Vikram Solar plans to use the cells for modules serving utility-scale projects, rooftop installations, and the PM Surya Ghar and PM-KUSUM programmes, where domestic content requirements apply, as well as for global customers looking to diversify their supply chains.

The company also intends to seek enlistment for the cells under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-II.

Employment Impact

The company said the integrated facility would provide more than 2,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.