“The design of our gigafactory allows for modular expansion with minimal costs and in the shortest timeframe,” stated Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and managing director. Image: Reliance Industries.
The Indian multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries is set to inaugurate solar production facilities by the end of this year and battery storage production facilities by next year.
As per a statement from Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, the production of solar PV modules will commence before the end of this year, with operations at a battery gigafactory starting in the second half of next year.
During the 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on August 29 in Mumbai, India, Ambani outlined the advancements as a strategic move to enhance Reliance’s presence in deep-tech industries and advanced manufacturing, backing the vision of a developed India (‘Viksit Bharat’).
While Reliance has traditionally been recognized for its engagement in the oil and gas industries, the conglomerate has expanded its operations into a wide array of sectors such as telecommunications, financial services, textiles, beauty products, and the development of renewable energy technologies and plants.
Reliance’s subsidiary, Reliance New Energy, is constructing a green energy manufacturing complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with a total investment of $7.2 billion.
The location will ultimately incorporate facilities for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery cell and storage systems, electrolysers, raw and auxiliary materials, power electronics and semiconductor production, as well as a research and development (R&D) center.
Bifacial PV module efficiency to exceed 26% from the start
In 2021, Reliance New Energy Solar completed the acquisition of REC Silicon and is utilizing the technology of the Singapore-based solar manufacturer and materials company for its comprehensive solar production facilities. By 2022, the company announced that the plant, initially capable of producing 10GW annually across various components, is scheduled to begin operations in 2024.
During his AGM speech, Reliance chairman Ambani affirmed that the factory will commence the production of heterojunction (HJT) PV modules by the end of the current year. Ambani mentioned that the integrated facility will gradually start manufacturing other components such as cells, glass, wafers, ingots, and polysilicon in the subsequent quarters.
“The gigafactory has been structured for scalable expansion with minimal expenses and in the quickest timeframe,” stated the chairman.
“We have completely integrated and localized the HJT technology from REC Singapore, our wholly-owned subsidiary, to create next-generation bifacial solar panels achieving cell efficiency surpassing 26%,” the statement read.
