Tata Power to Begin Construction of 10 GW Solar Ingot and Wafer Manufacturing Plant in Odisha

Tata Power is preparing to begin construction of its proposed 10 GW solar ingot and wafer manufacturing facility at Gopalpur in Odisha during November 2026, marking an important step towards strengthening India’s domestic photovoltaic manufacturing ecosystem. The company has secured the necessary approvals to commence construction and is targeting March 2028 for the facility to become operational.

The development was announced by Tata Power Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Praveer Sinha on November 11, 2026, during discussions following the company’s financial results for the second quarter of FY2026–27. According to the company, preliminary site development activities, including land filling and cutting, have already commenced, while the main construction phase is expected to begin during the second half of November.

The proposed facility represents a significant expansion of Tata Power’s renewable energy manufacturing operations, extending its participation beyond solar cells and modules into the upstream production of silicon ingots and wafers. The project is intended to strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities in a segment of the photovoltaic supply chain where Indian manufacturers have traditionally relied heavily on imported materials.

10 GW Manufacturing Capacity to Be Developed in Two Phases

The proposed manufacturing facility will have a total capacity of 10 GW, developed in two phases of 5 GW each. Tata Power has identified Gopalpur in Odisha as the location for the project, taking advantage of the existing industrial infrastructure and land availability in the region.

The company had earlier announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Gopalpur Special Economic Zone for approximately 128 acres of land required for the manufacturing facility. The site development programme includes land preparation, infrastructure arrangements and the necessary environmental and regulatory approvals.

The project is part of Tata Power’s broader strategy to establish an integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem covering multiple stages of photovoltaic production. The proposed plant will manufacture silicon ingots and wafers, which are essential intermediate materials used in producing solar photovoltaic cells.

The latest construction schedule represents an update to the company’s earlier plans. While Tata Power had previously indicated that the first phase could become operational in early 2028, the revised target announced in November places the expected operational milestone in March 2028.

Strengthening India’s Indigenous Solar Manufacturing Ecosystem

Solar photovoltaic manufacturing involves several interconnected stages, beginning with the processing of high-purity silicon into ingots. These ingots are subsequently sliced into thin wafers, which undergo further processing to produce solar cells. Individual cells are then interconnected and assembled into solar modules used in power generation installations.

Although India has expanded its domestic solar cell and module manufacturing capacities, the availability of locally manufactured ingots and wafers remains an important requirement for developing a fully integrated photovoltaic supply chain.

Tata Power’s proposed Gopalpur facility is intended to address this requirement by establishing substantial upstream manufacturing capacity within India. Once operational, the project could reduce the company’s dependence on imported wafers and provide greater control over critical raw-material supplies for its solar manufacturing operations.

Domestic production of ingots and wafers can also help strengthen supply-chain resilience, reduce exposure to international procurement disruptions and support the development of specialised industrial capabilities associated with high-precision photovoltaic manufacturing.

The project aligns with India’s broader efforts to expand domestic renewable energy equipment production and establish a more comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem under the Make in India initiative.

Integration With Tata Power’s Existing Solar Manufacturing Facility in Tamil Nadu

The proposed Odisha plant will complement Tata Power’s existing solar cell and module manufacturing operations in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, which have an installed manufacturing capacity of approximately 4.3 GW each.

The Tamil Nadu facility represents an important component of Tata Power’s domestic solar manufacturing strategy, producing photovoltaic cells and modules for utility-scale solar installations, commercial customers and other renewable energy applications.

During the second quarter of FY2026–27, Tata Power’s solar manufacturing operations produced approximately 0.9 GW of solar cells and 1 GW of solar modules. Production during the first half of the financial year reached approximately 1.8 GW of cells and 2 GW of modules, reflecting the continued expansion of the company’s domestic manufacturing activities.

The addition of upstream ingot and wafer manufacturing capacity in Odisha is expected to strengthen integration across these operations. Instead of depending entirely on external suppliers for wafers, Tata Power intends to develop the capability to manufacture these critical components domestically and supply them to its existing photovoltaic production facilities.

Such backward integration could improve supply-chain coordination, enhance manufacturing flexibility and support long-term cost competitiveness as India’s solar energy market continues to expand.

Odisha Emerging as a Renewable Energy Manufacturing Destination

The selection of Gopalpur reflects Odisha’s growing importance as a destination for industrial investment and advanced manufacturing.

The state offers access to port infrastructure, industrial land, transportation networks and established manufacturing ecosystems. These advantages are particularly relevant for large-scale solar manufacturing facilities, which require dependable electricity, water, industrial infrastructure and efficient logistics arrangements.

The proposed Tata Power facility could contribute to the development of a broader photovoltaic manufacturing ecosystem in Odisha by creating opportunities for specialised equipment suppliers, industrial service providers, logistics operators and ancillary manufacturing enterprises.

The project also has the potential to generate employment in engineering, manufacturing, plant operations, maintenance and supporting industrial activities. The extent of direct and indirect employment generation will depend on the final project configuration and implementation arrangements.

The establishment of upstream photovoltaic manufacturing capabilities could encourage additional investments in supporting industries, particularly those involved in precision engineering, industrial automation, materials processing and renewable energy equipment manufacturing.

Reducing Dependence on Imported Solar Components

India’s rapid expansion of solar power generation has created substantial demand for photovoltaic equipment. While domestic manufacturing of solar modules and cells has grown, parts of the upstream production chain continue to depend on imported components and materials.

Silicon wafers form a critical link in this chain because they provide the base material from which most conventional crystalline-silicon solar cells are manufactured.

Establishing domestic wafer production at industrial scale could improve India’s ability to manufacture solar equipment using a greater proportion of locally produced components.

For Tata Power, the proposed Gopalpur plant represents an opportunity to establish greater control over the supply of wafers required by its downstream manufacturing operations. At the national level, additional upstream manufacturing capacity could contribute to the gradual development of a more self-reliant photovoltaic industry.

However, the establishment of domestic ingot and wafer manufacturing does not eliminate the need for international sourcing across the entire photovoltaic value chain. High-purity polysilicon, specialised equipment and certain manufacturing inputs may continue to require external procurement, depending on the final production configuration.

Construction Scheduled for November 2026, Operations Targeted for March 2028

Tata Power has confirmed that the necessary approvals to begin construction have been obtained and that preliminary land development work is already underway at the Gopalpur site.

The company expects the main construction phase to commence during November 2026, with March 2028 established as the latest target for operational readiness.

The total investment requirement and expected cost savings associated with the backward integration project have not yet been finalised publicly. Detailed financial commitments and procurement arrangements will therefore become clearer as implementation progresses.

The project represents an important development in India’s efforts to establish integrated solar manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the upstream stages of photovoltaic production.

By combining its established solar cell and module manufacturing operations in Tamil Nadu with the proposed ingot and wafer facility in Odisha, Tata Power is working towards a more integrated domestic production network.

The successful implementation of the Gopalpur project would strengthen India’s industrial capabilities in solar photovoltaic manufacturing, support renewable energy supply-chain development and contribute to the country’s long-term clean energy and manufacturing objectives.

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