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					</table>India has rapidly expanded domestic solar module manufacturing, while investments in cells, ingots, and wafers continue to gather pace. However, achieving a truly self-reliant manufacturing ecosystem will also require domestic production of ancillary components, including junction boxes, interconnect busbars, encapsulants, sealants, solar glass, aluminum frames, and DC cables.
In an interview on the sidelines of the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/mercom-india-renewables-summit-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewables Summit 2026</a>, Bhupendra Singh Rawat, Chief Executive Officer at <a href="https://dhashgreen.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dhash Green Energy</a>, discussed India’s ancillary manufacturing ecosystem, product reliability, quality standards, policy support, and the company&#8217;s expansion plans.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
How important is it to build a fully self-reliant domestic supply chain for the bill of materials and balance-of-system components as India scales up solar manufacturing?
Manufacturing is fundamental to every economy, and a complete value chain, including ancillary manufacturing, is essential for long-term competitiveness.
India has already made significant progress. Module manufacturing capacity now largely meets domestic demand; cell manufacturing is receiving greater emphasis; and the government has already announced the inclusion of ingots and wafers in the domestic manufacturing framework from 2028.
In ancillary manufacturing, India has already achieved a high degree of self-reliance in products such as junction boxes, encapsulants, interconnect busbars, sealants, solar glass, and aluminum frames.
Developing these capabilities is no longer only an industrial priority. Energy has become a matter of national security, making a resilient domestic supply chain strategically important.
How do junction boxes, connectors, and cables contribute to the reliability of a solar project?
Solar modules are backed by warranties of up to 30 years. Every component used in a module must therefore deliver comparable long-term reliability.
The products must undergo mechanical, electrical, and thermal stability testing. They must also be tested under humidity-freeze cycles, thermal cycling, ultraviolet exposure, and other environmental conditions. Manufacturers need strong in-house testing capabilities to ensure that products can withstand different temperatures, humidity levels, and diverse operating environments throughout the module’s life.
Dhash has invested in both scale and quality infrastructure. We have 63 GW of junction box manufacturing capacity and 25 GW of interconnect busbar capacity.
We are also backward integrated into plastic injection molding for junction boxes. In DC cables, we are establishing a capacity of 1,000 km per day using electron-beam cross-linking technology.
Each product line has its own laboratory for regular testing and long-term reliability assessments. This provides module manufacturers greater confidence in the quality and durability of the components.
Are these testing facilities available in-house?
Yes, all these facilities are in-house. We are also applying for accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. An in-house testing facility is critical for any solar ancillary manufacturer. Quality should be embedded in the product by default.
Given the 30-year warranties offered on solar modules, every component must be capable of operating reliably under heat, humidity, temperature fluctuations, and varying climatic conditions throughout the project’s life.
India continues to depend on imports for several solar components. How quickly is domestic manufacturing catching up?
The transition is already underway. Dhash currently has about a 50% share of India’s junction box market. India has approximately 153 GW of installed junction box manufacturing capacity, which is sufficient to meet domestic module manufacturing requirements.
We entered interconnect busbar manufacturing only around five months ago and have already scaled our capacity to 25 GW. Within the next few quarters, we expect domestic production in this segment to be sufficient to support the module industry.
Other components are also catching up. Domestic sealant and encapsulant capacities have each crossed around 60 GW.
India’s current annual module demand is estimated at around 65-70 GW. Most domestic component categories are approaching that level of capacity. Solar glass may take longer due to a longer project development and commissioning cycle, but capacity is also being developed in that segment.
India is steadily moving toward self-sufficiency across the component value chain.
How has demand for domestically manufactured solar components changed in recent years?
Demand has increased significantly. Over the past two financial years, Dhash Technologies has supplied around 40 GW of junction boxes. We supplied approximately 15 GW in the financial year 2025 and around 25 GW in the financial year 2026.
This growth reflects the confidence that domestic module manufacturers have placed in Indian component suppliers. Our responsibility is to maintain that confidence by delivering reliable products, continuing to innovate, and ensuring compatibility with future solar technologies.
Should the government introduce an approved list or quality-linked framework for solar components?
India’s module manufacturing capacity expanded rapidly after the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers framework was implemented. ALMM List-II for solar cells is expected to encourage capacity additions, with substantial cell manufacturing capacity already committed by the industry.
Ancillary manufacturing needs a similar policy framework. The government could consider an approved list of ancillary manufacturers to encourage investment, ensure quality, and accelerate capacity expansion.
In addition, products such as junction boxes should be brought under Bureau of Indian Standards certification as complete products. At present, only DC cables are directly covered by product-specific standards.
What regulatory framework would you like to see for BoM and BoS components?
The first priority is product-specific classification. Many components used by the renewable energy industry are currently imported under generic Harmonized System of Nomenclature codes. This makes it difficult to accurately assess how much is being imported and how much is manufactured domestically.
Junction boxes, for example, are imported under generic tariff classifications. Interconnect busbars may enter India under several different HSN codes because no single product-specific code exists.
The government should introduce dedicated HSN codes for key renewable energy components. This would improve monitoring, transparency, and policy enforcement. We would also like to see a minimum Basic Customs Duty of 20% on these components to prevent dumping and create a level playing field for domestic manufacturers.
Junction boxes should be covered by BIS certification as a complete product. Standards for interconnect busbars are also being developed, and we are in discussions with the National Institute of Solar Energy. Once finalized, these products should also be brought under BIS.
What are Dhash Technologies’ plans for the next five years?
We are focused on remaining technology-ready as module technologies continue to evolve. Our junction boxes are compatible with mono PERC, TOPCon, heterojunction, and other emerging module technologies.
We are also developing innovative interconnect busbar products, including reflective and elliptical busbars. These designs can improve solderability due to their larger effective contact area with solar cells.
Another major product is a composite module frame, which we believe can become a transformational solution for moisture-prone and demanding environments such as Khavda and floating solar projects.
Composite frames can offer significant advantages in corrosion resistance, carbon footprint, manufacturing efficiency, and pricing.
We have commercially launched the product and are the exclusive partner of a leading global glass-roving material manufacturer. We plan to begin manufacturing the composite frames in India within the next six to eight months.

Domestic Solar Components Need Quality Standards and Policy Support: Interview

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					</table>In an interview on the sidelines of the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/event/renewables-summit-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewables Summit 2025</a> held in New Delhi on July 24 and 25, 2025, Bhupendra Singh Rawat, CEO at <a href="https://dhashtec.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dhash PV Technologies</a>, noted that despite ample domestic capacity, cheap imports still account for a large share of the solar component market due to price gaps. He called for the immediate implementation of BIS standards for solar cables and junction boxes to curb imports and strengthen India’s solar component ecosystem.
What are the products that Dhash PV currently offers in the solar and renewable space?
We are India’s largest and the global number one non-Chinese integrated junction box manufacturer. We currently have an operational capacity of 53 GW, which we are expanding to 63 GW. We have backward integration in place, including our polymer manufacturing for injection molding parts.
The next major addition is DC cables with a production capacity of 1,000 kilometers per day. We are also expanding into interconnect busbars, starting with 6.3 GW capacity, which is already operational, and targeting 25 GW this financial year. By the end of the year, we will have 63 GW of junction box capacity, 25 GW of busbar capacity, and 1,000 kilometers per day of DC cables.
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Of the products you manufacture, what is the ratio of imported versus domestically produced components?
We have a 30% market share in India, but there are still a lot of cheap imports coming in. The biggest reason is the price gap; imported products can be about $20 cheaper, which no industry can sustain without support. Currently, the basic customs duty is only $8.25 on junction boxes and $5.5 on interconnect busbars, so the domestic market remains vulnerable.
We have seen strong protectionist policies for modules, but not for other components like yours. What would be your message to the government?
For any industry to flourish, there must be a complete ecosystem. I have been in this industry since 2007 and have seen the module sector grow to 95 GW of capacity. That growth was made possible not just by duties, but by policies like ALMM. In component and ancillary manufacturing, where we work alongside glass, aluminum frame, and encapsulant manufacturers, duties are already in place for certain products.
We are requesting that the government implement barriers for our components as well, and to adopt BIS standards for solar cables and junction boxes immediately. The BIS standard for solar DC cables has been in effect since August 2023, and there are now 21 domestic manufacturers with sufficient capacity to meet demand. The government should stop unnecessary imports so the domestic industry can grow.
Prices of metals like aluminum and copper have been rising. How do you see this affecting product pricing?
India is a price driver globally, even though China leads in manufacturing capacity. If we want renewable deployment to accelerate beyond our current 50% renewable target, pricing must remain competitive, without compromising manufacturing viability. Domestically, non-DCR modules are already available at around ₹13 (~$0.15)/W, which is quite competitive. China has also begun to control pricing by limiting new manufacturing capacity. I believe India should also consider capacity alignment, as module manufacturing is likely to reach 180 to 200 GW by the end of next year, far exceeding domestic demand.
Does the lack of BIS or other standards affect your ability to export?
Until now, the domestic market has absorbed most of our capacity, but with the growth in manufacturing, we are targeting exports. We are already in discussions with major U.S. module manufacturers and aim for 10% of our sales to be exports. If domestic capacity outpaces demand, creating overseas demand becomes essential. Export benefits and incentives would help in this regard.
What is Dhash PV’s near-term and medium-term roadmap?
Financially, our goal is to become a billion-dollar company by 2029–30. We will achieve this by expanding our existing portfolio and adding niche products to enter new segments. We are already working on several new products and are confident of meeting our targets.

Imports Threaten India’s Solar Component Ecosystem: Interview

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