Archive · 9 Aug 2026
India Plans PLI Scheme for Polysilicon to Cut Solar Imports
Solar panels need a special material called polysilicon to turn sunlight into electricity.
Right now, India buys all of its polysilicon from other countries, mostly from China.
The Indian government is planning a new programme to help companies make polysilicon inside India.
If companies build these factories, the government will give them incentives, like rewards and financial help.
This will help India make its own solar panels from start to finish.
India already gives similar support for other solar parts, like solar cells and modules.
The new programme could support more than 10 GW of polysilicon production.
India has a big goal of creating 500 GW of clean energy by the year 2030.
Making polysilicon at home will help India reach that goal and depend less on other countries.
India is preparing a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of polysilicon, a key raw material for solar photovoltaic panels.
The scheme aims to reduce India's dependence on imports, as the country currently relies entirely on imported polysilicon and China dominates global production.
The proposed programme could support more than 10 GW of polysilicon production capacity, though details of the financial support are yet to be disclosed.
India has already provided Rs 24,000 crore in manufacturing-linked incentives for solar cell and module production.
The move supports India's target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030, with over 200 GW of module and more than 32 GW of cell capacity already built.
- Who
- Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event.
- What
- Announced India's plan for a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme to boost domestic polysilicon manufacturing and reduce solar import dependence.
- When
- Recent announcement made at a CII event; the article does not specify a date.
- Where
- New Delhi, India, at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event.
- Why
- To reduce dependence on Chinese-dominated polysilicon imports, build a complete solar manufacturing supply chain, and support India's 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target by 2030.
- Proposal
- Production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for polysilicon manufacturing
- Announced by
- Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Expected capacity
- More than 10 GW of polysilicon production
- Current reliance
- 100% dependence on polysilicon imports; China dominates global production
- Existing solar incentives
- Rs 24,000 crore for solar cell and module production
- Built capacity
- Over 200 GW solar module capacity; more than 32 GW solar cell capacity
- Planned cell capacity
- Additional 100 GW of solar cell capacity expected within the next year
- National target
- 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030