Solar Semiconductor in alliance with TUV Rheinland

Hyderabad: In efforts to emerge as a larger player in the supply of quality products in the solar energy sector, Solar Semiconductor has forged a alliance with TUV Rheinland, the global quality certification major.

The quality certification from TUV Rheinland will give Solar Semiconductor entry into the grid-connected solar power business, which is fast growing and big.

Solar Semiconductor, which has committed investments of up to $1.1 billion in manufacturing units in India to reach an installed capacity of 1Giga Watt solar power in the long term, will leverage the quality certification with its European and American clients, said Mr Nava Akkineni, Executive Vice-President of the US-based company.

Solar Semiconductor has an order book of $1.5 to $2 billion to be delivered in the next 2-3 years. It has orders under execution for the supply of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Q Cells, IBC Solar and Ersol Solar Energy of Germany and Motech Industries, Taiwan, which are leading players in the global solar energy sphere, he told newspersons here.

The company has two operating units (43,000 sq ft) with installed capacity of 60-70 MW on the outskirts of Hyderabad. In July-August, it expects to operationalise its third unit (93,000 sq ft) in the upcoming Fab City near the international airport. “By end of 2008, we will have a capacity of 210-220 MW,” he said.

Mr Enrico Ruhle, Managing Director of TUV Rheinland India, said under the strategic arrangement the company will offer training programmes for Solar Semiconductor to improve quality standards across the life cycle of the product.

He said the quality certification offered by TUV Rheinland is widely accepted in the global markets.

With many European, especially German companies looking at outsourcing their growing needs from India, quality standards would definitely help the supplier.

Minus certification, PV products supplied by Indian companies could be limited to off-grid areas such as street lighting and captive supply, among others which is a very small market.

The Indian solar energy market is also seeing a growth, with over 40 manufacturers announcing entry in the PV segment itself. TUV Rhienland has provided certification to nearly 10 of them. However, most Indian companies, unlike Solar Semiconductor are not going in for certification of the entire lifecycle from design to recycling, he said.