Mumbai-headquartered integrated solar module manufacturer RenewSys has announced a significant expansion of its encapsulant manufacturing capacity by adding eight new production lines at its facility in Khopoli, Maharashtra. This development will increase the company’s total encapsulant production capacity to 30 GW.

Encapsulant is a protective layer for shielding solar cells from environmental damage.

Seven of the new encapsulant lines are operational, with four more expected to be commissioned within 2025. The company plans to operate 19 advanced encapsulant production lines across its facilities.

The company said the manufacturing capacity expansion addresses the increasing demand for high-performance encapsulants in the Indian and global solar markets.

The new production lines at Khopoli are designed to support RenewSys’ strategy of sustainably scaling up operations.

RenewSys said it plans to offer transparent backsheets and anti-acid encapsulants in addition to its established range of ethylene vinyl acetate, polyolefin elastomer, and ethylene propylene elastomer encapsulants.

RenewSys currently operates a solar module manufacturing capacity of 5.5 GW, encapsulant manufacturing capacity of 9 GW, and backsheet manufacturing capacity of 4 GW.

It is also installing a 2.5 GW high-efficiency solar cell line to integrate and expand its renewable energy component manufacturing portfolio.

RenewSys recently increased its solar module manufacturing capacity under the updated Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM). It grew its manufacturing capacity by 1,176 MW.

Last year, RenewSys India was one of the five companies that filed an application with the Directorate General of Trade Remedies to initiate anti-dumping investigations into the import of solar cells from China.

Indian solar ancillary component manufacturers had urged the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to mandate the use of India-made solar components, including encapsulants, in government projects to create a robust supply chain and reduce reliance on imports. It suggested an ALMM-type requirement solar components.

Besides encapsulants, these ancillary components include solar glass, copper conductors, aluminum frames, and junction boxes.