New Delhi, Mar 24 (KNN) India’s recent imposition of anti-dumping import duties on solar glass is expected to increase domestic solar module prices by 3-5 per cent, making them more expensive than Chinese alternatives, according to industry experts.

However, as India’s manufacturing ecosystem matures, these costs are expected to decline over time, aligning with global standards.

Anish Mandal, Partner at Deloitte India, noted that textured tempered glass accounts for only 8-12 per cent of a solar module’s total cost.

He estimated that an additional average duty of 25 per cent would increase module costs by around USD 0.6 cents per watt-peak (Wp), translating to an approximate 3 per cent rise in total module prices.

India is working towards localising the entire photovoltaic value chain. According to Rohit Gadre, Specialist at BloombergNEF (BNEF), the government is implementing policies in a phased manner, beginning with modules, then solar cells, and now ancillary components such as glass.

“Based on industry feedback, domestic module prices could rise by USD 1-2 cents per watt, further widening the price gap between Indian and Chinese solar modules,” he stated.

The anti-dumping duties are proposed for a five-year period, providing long-term policy stability for manufacturers and independent power producers (IPPs).

Amit Paithankar, Whole-time Director & CEO of Waaree Energies, mentioned that duties on imports from China and Vietnam would encourage local sourcing. This has already led to a 4-5 per cent rise in module prices due to higher input costs.

Mandal highlighted the introduction of a ‘reference-price mechanism,’ ensuring that duties apply only to imports priced below a set fair benchmark.

This is expected to support domestic players, improve cash flows, and boost factory utilisation rates, thereby expanding India’s domestic market share from its current 30-40 per cent.

(KNN Bureau)