Why in news
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) targeted 30 GW domestic polysilicon manufacturing capacity by 2030.
Strategic Rationale
- Polysilicon is the foundational raw material for silicon-based photovoltaic (PV) solar wafers, ingots, cells, and modules.
- India currently relies heavily on imported polysilicon, exposing its 500 GW non-fossil fuel energy target by 2030 to supply chain vulnerabilities.
Policy Framework
- Backed by planned investments of ₹25,000 crore under targeted government manufacturing incentive frameworks.
- Complemented by research into grid-scale energy storage options such as Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries.
Key terms
Polysilicon
High-purity polycrystalline form of silicon used as a fundamental raw material in solar PV manufacturing.
Vanadium Redox Flow Battery
A type of rechargeable flow battery that uses vanadium ions in different oxidation states to store chemical potential energy.
Prelims facts
- Polysilicon is refined from quartzite and forms the initial stage of the solar PV manufacturing value chain.
Mains discussion
- Discuss strategies to overcome upstream manufacturing bottlenecks in India's renewable energy sector.
Source: Economic Times