Laxit Awla on SAEL’s Role in Accelerating India’s Clean Energy Future

With India targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, integrated players like SAEL are becoming instrumental in driving this clean energy transition. As of June 2025, India has already achieved 242.8 GW from non-fossil sources, but the challenge now lies in scaling generation while ensuring reliability through manufacturing and storage. In this interview, Laxit Awla, CEO of SAEL, talks about how the company’s big investment in solar, its end-to-end manufacturing approach, and its agri-waste-to-energy projects are helping reduce import dependence and cut pollution.

1. With India aiming for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, what role do you see integrated players like SAEL playing in bridging the gap between generation, manufacturing and storage?

With India targeting 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, integrated players like SAEL are critical to driving this transition. As of June 2025, the country has already achieved 242.8 GW—50% of its total installed capacity—from non-fossil sources, underscoring the momentum and the need for scalable, resilient infrastructure. SAEL’s ₹8,200 crore investment in an integrated solar manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, with 5 GW each of TOPCon cell and module capacity, exemplifies this approach—bridging gaps across technology, manufacturing, and generation. In FY 2024–25 alone, India added a record 25 GW of renewable capacity, primarily solar. Yet, renewables account for just 24% of actual power generation due to grid intermittency. SAEL’s ability to pair generation with emerging storage solutions positions it to deliver stable, dispatchable power. As over 183 GW of clean energy projects move from pipeline to implementation, SAEL’s end-to-end model ensures speed, quality, and cost efficiency while reducing import dependence.

2. As India pushes for Atmanirbhar Bharat in solar manufacturing, how critical is vertical integration like SAEL’s cell-to-module approach, in reducing import dependence and ensuring long-term energy security?

Vertical integration like cell-to-module strategy is absolutely vital for India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in solar manufacturing. We have seen a significant shift driven by expanding domestic capacity and supportive policies like PLI and ALMM. However, over 60-70% of solar imports still originate from China and other south east Asian, underlining the urgency for robust local manufacturing.

With India currently at approximately 80 GW of module capacity but a mere ~15 GW of cell capacity, SAEL’s approach directly tackles a key bottleneck. This is crucial ahead of the June 2026 rule requiring locally made cells for government projects.

Furthermore, India’s PV module output is expected to climb from ~80 GW to 125 GW by 2030, with cell manufacturing rising from 25 GW to 40 GW—but achieving this hinges on integrated facilities. Without them, import dependence could balloon to $30 billion annually by 2030. This approach not only ensures supply chain resilience, quality control, and faster deployment, but also aligns with national focus areas under PLI and ALMM, paving the way for energy security, cost competitiveness, and true self-reliance in India’s solar journey.

3. Given the increasing emphasis on hybrid and battery-integrated solar projects, what are the key policy and financing shifts needed to make large-scale storage commercially viable in India?

As India pushes for round-the-clock renewables, large-scale storage is key—and making it commercially viable requires bold policy and financing shifts. SAEL believes extending transmission charge waivers, scaling up Viability Gap Funding (VGF), and introducing mandatory storage obligations in RE tenders will immediately strengthen the business case for battery-integrated solar. We also urge inclusion of long-duration technologies like pumped hydro within tender frameworks.

4. How does this SAEL strategy towards vertical integration across the solar value chain, from IPP to advanced TOPCon module manufacturing; can give it a competitive edge in accelerating India’s clean energy transition?

SAEL’s vertical integration - from being an Independent Power Producer (IPP) to manufacturing advanced TOPCon solar modules to now plans for manufacturing Solar Cells - gives it a significant competitive edge in accelerating India’s clean energy transition. By building a fully in-house value chain, SAEL reduces dependency on imports, ensures cost efficiency, and enhances quality control across EPC, O&M, and manufacturing. With 3.7 GW of TOPCon module capacity already operational in Rajasthan and Punjab, and a new 5 GW cell and module facility coming up in Greater Noida with an ₹8,200 crore investment, SAEL is well-positioned to meet India's growing demand for high-efficiency solar technology. This integration not only supports the government’s "Make in India" and energy security goals but also allows SAEL to rapidly scale its contribution towards the national goals.

5. What roadmap is SAEL targeting in the next four years, to align with the vision of India’s energy storage and grid resilience goals?

Our roadmap is of Growth! We believe that India is placed well in the entire Renewable energy ecosystem, and SAEL too is in the right position to capitalize on the industry tailwinds. We are looking at growing rapidly across the Solar, with inclusion of storage in a majority of projects going forward. The manufacturing prowess that we aim to achieve to meet the captive requirements are in place, and we want to fulfil the needs of the ecosystem going forward. We are also anticipating interesting developments for Agri-WTE business, as the problems of pollution, crop residue wastage and employment are becoming more relevant across many Indian states.

6. How does SAEL envision its role in strengthening India's domestic solar manufacturing ecosystem amid global supply chain shifts with the recent ₹8,200 crore investment in an integrated solar manufacturing facility under YEIDA is a major milestone?

India’s solar power supply chain in 2025 is experiencing substantial growth, driven by aggressive government policies, localization incentives, and strong private sector participation. The country’s solar module manufacturing capacity nearly doubled from 38 GW in March 2024 to 74 GW in March 2025, and PV cell manufacturing has seen similar expansion, reaching 25 GW. Leading solar states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu are expanding integrated ecosystems covering the entire value chain, from ingots and wafers to PV modules, with Indian exports of PV modules tripling in a single year.

Despite these advances, India’s solar supply chain still faces critical challenges, notably a continued reliance on imported materials and advanced equipment - predominantly from China - alongside nascent local ingot and wafer production. To enhance resilience, policymakers and industry leaders are working to localize more of the supply chain, incentivize domestic manufacturing of key inputs, and promote technological innovation. Addressing these issues is seen as essential for ensuring long-term competitiveness, reducing vulnerability to global shocks, and supporting India’s ambition to become a global solar manufacturing and export hub.

SAEL’s investment in an integrated 5 GW solar cell and 5 GW module manufacturing facility under YEIDA marks will contribute to strengthen India’s solar manufacturing ecosystem amid global supply chain realignments. With this, SAEL’s total module capacity will scale up to 8.5 GW — supporting the government’s domestic content mandates and reducing dependence on imports. By adopting advanced TOPCon technology and aligning manufacturing with its growing 6.7 GW IPP portfolio, SAEL is building a vertically integrated, high-efficiency solar value chain.

7. How does SAEL’s agri-waste-to-energy division support circular economy goals and balance its role as a clean energy producer with broader environmental and rural development?

SAEL’s agriwastetoenergy division is a cornerstone of its commitment to a circular economy, processing nearly 2 million tonnes of agricultural residue annually across 11 biomass plants in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan—generating 165 MW of reliable clean power. As the world’s one of the only 100% paddybased biomass operator and largest industrial stubble offtaker, SAEL plays a pivotal role in stopping field burning—a major contributor to Northern India’s air pollution. Each plant supports approximately 300 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs, creating new income for farmers and rural communities. SAEL’s model delivers more than just green electricity—it reduces CO₂ emissions, improves air quality, and empowers local economies. By integrating this with its solar and manufacturing verticals, SAEL balances its role as a clean energy producer with deep environmental impact and inclusive rural development, aligning profitability with sustainability and India’s broader green ambitions.