Rising solar demand across India, driven by rooftop subsidies, clarity on open access, and commercial and industrial (C&I) adoption, is resulting in developers and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors updating their project execution strategies.

According to industry experts, companies are shifting procurement decisions more closely towards domestic manufacturing availability, Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) compliance, and solar system quality, durability, and reliability.

Developers and EPC contractors are increasingly focusing on timely module sourcing, third-party testing, certified mounting structures, and contractual safeguards to reduce supply risks and ensure timely project commissioning.

Expected Market Growth

Devarsh Dalal, Key Account and Institutional Sales at Adani Solar, said the company has 4 GW of solar cell and module manufacturing capacity and a 2 GW ingot-wafer manufacturing facility. The company is developing a module and cell manufacturing park aiming to produce TOPCon G12R solar modules rated at over 600 W.

Adani Solar plans to add G12R module and cell lines, each with 6 GW of capacity, within the current financial year. It also aims to increase wafer manufacturing capacity to 10 GW by 2028 to 2029 and develop an integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem.

Dalal said the company’s current capacity utilization factor is at 100% due to increased demand. He noted that demand for solar products has increased since the introduction of subsidies under the PM Surya Ghar program.

Rahul Makahaniya, Chief Marketing Officer at Soleos Energy, expects rooftop installations across India to increase only marginally this year. Rooftop solar is less viable for energy-intensive industries, such as cement, chemicals, and steel. He felt that ground-mounted systems are likely to drive future solar adoption in such industries.

He cited open access clarity over the last two and a half years as one of the reasons for this shift. “If we remove the PM Surya Ghar program and focus just on the commercial investment, it (the future) is in ground-mounted systems,” Makahaniya said.

Energy-intensive industries adopt solar to cut operating costs or meet clean energy commitments through mechanisms such as renewable purchase obligations.

In non-energy-intensive industries, Makahaniya noted that most new facilities are being built alongside solar projects.

Quality of Mounting Structures

Discussing the importance of solar mounting structures, Chirag Garg, Founder and Director at Stucon Energy India, said they account for only 10% to 15% of total project costs. Customers, therefore, tend to cut costs on these structures. But this can become an issue during harsh climatic conditions.

Designing mounting structures involves site topography, climatic conditions, and other specifications. For example, the company uses mounting structures with higher galvanized coatings in coastal regions. In regions with strong winds, the company focuses on base support systems.

Garg called for greater focus on certified engineering materials and precision in mounting structures.

Discussing installation challenges, he said every site, installation, and project is different. Each joint in the mounting structure is designed differently based on soil and climatic conditions.

Solar project developers are becoming more willing to pay for long-term durability in mounting structures, particularly after recent weather events.

According to Garg, this approach can reduce maintenance costs over the long term.

Garg added that Stucon provides developers with traceability certificates for mounting structures, demonstrating quality and engineering precision.

Discussing the manufacturing process for future-ready module mounting structures, he said Stucon is focusing largely on residential solar projects under the PM Surya Ghar program. Modules for such structures can be fabricated on-site. The company provides module vendors with prefabricated structures for 3 kW to 5 kW panels. This helps shorten project timelines and minimize installation errors.

Module mounting structure companies are also using newer materials such as zinc-aluminum-magnesium, which have self-healing properties. Garg said companies such as Stucon are also increasing automation in manufacturing structures to reduce production errors and delivery timelines.

Impact of ALMM List-II

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has mandated that, from June 1, 2026, solar modules must use cells sourced only from manufacturers enrolled in ALMM List-II. This move is aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing. The Ministry has declared that there will be no blanket extension of the ALMM List-II deadline beyond June 1, 2026.

Dalal said demand for ALMM-II compliant modules will increase, particularly for captive commercial and industrial (C&I) projects. He expects a slight supply-demand gap in the module market over the next 1 to 2 months due to the mandate. However, he projects that the industry will overcome these challenges and resume regular operations soon.

Considering the ALMM List II mandate, Dalal said he had been warning solar installers against overcommitting to customers. He advised installers to confirm supply expectations with manufacturers before committing to project timelines with customers.

Module Supply Risk

Makahaniya said Soleos has prepared for potential supply-side risk in the solar module market by structuring contracts to ensure timely supply. Developers are adding clauses to contracts with module suppliers to ensure timely delivery, including discounts for modules delivered after the agreed date.

However, Makahaniya noted that developers often delay taking delivery of modules, rather than manufacturers supplying them late. He cited land allocation delays beyond developers’ control as one such reason. Contracts are being prepared to establish joint responsibility for delays in the supply and delivery of solar modules.

Developers setting up multiple projects can source modules from different manufacturers if one manufacturer cannot meet the delivery deadline. Smaller companies working on single projects face greater exposure to module supply delays and price changes. Even marginal price changes per module can affect total project costs.

Developers and manufacturers also aim to maintain relationships beyond contracts, which helps address demand-supply risks. Developers and EPC contractors must place module orders on time after securing solar projects. Waiting longer before ordering modules to achieve higher margins can lead to cost escalation.

Developers and EPC contractors must be transparent with customers and module manufacturers about project commissioning expectations.

Module Durability

Dalal discussed how solar installers are ensuring module performance when selecting manufacturers.

He stated that developers and EPC contractors have begun sending solar modules to third-party laboratories to check their performance.

Dalal added that developers must assess whether the manufacturers they select for solar modules will remain in business throughout the projects’ lifetimes. He advised developers to obtain insurance for solar modules on larger projects in case manufacturers become bankrupt or cease operations.

These discussions were part of Mercom’s Renewable Energy Buyer Seller Meet 2026, held in Jodhpur. The next Buyer-Seller Meet will be held in Bengaluru on July 24, 2026.

Mercom is also hosting the sixth edition of its Renewables Summit, the largest conference in the sector, on July 1 and 2 at the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi.  It brings together diverse stakeholders who are shaping India’s renewable energy industry.