Jakson group to foray into solar cell manufacturing

The Noida-based Jakson group plans to increase its solar energy manufacturing capacity to 1.5 Gigawatts by 2020, in the background of the government’s aim of 175 Gw in renewable power generation by 2022. The company has a contract for equipping trains with solar energy panels. It recently did a successful experiment for a DEMU (diesel electric multiple unit) train in Delhi. With increase in its module capacity and a foray into solar cell manufacturing, the company wants to position itself as an energy and engineering company, said Sameer Gupta, chairman and managing director of the group. Though the company diversified into the solar business in 2010, power back-ups and diesel generating sets comprise a large part of its revenue.

About 40 per cent of its ~2,700 crore annual revenue comes from the power generation and distribution business, where it is a leading player. This business comprises manufacture and sale of Cummins-powered generating sets, their installation and maintenance. Solar modules contribute another 44 per cent. The rest comes from other businesses, which include engineering procurement and construction (EPC), and retrofitting for the defence sector.

The company is making an investment of ~700 crore in a new solar module manufacturing plant in Gujarat. Gupta says the investment would be in two phases. In the first, 500 Mw of solar module capacity would be set up. In the second, another 500 Mw of solar module manufacturing and 250 Mw of solar cells. The total capacity would be 1 Gw (1,000 Mw) of modules and 250 Mw of cells. It has 70 Mw of capacity at a Noida plant for manufacturing mono and polycrystalline modules, beside 500 Mw of module mounting structures.

On whether the influx of Chinese solar components were a challenge for firms like theirs, especially in a falling rate regime, Gupta said, “The rates were competitive. The market is able to absorb products across the price range.”

He said they were also targeting the export market, particularly in West Asia and Africa, for EPC business. They have appointed 12 dealers for selling modules and offer retail solutions in the export market.

The group also owns and operates three independent solar power plants, with total installed capacity of 60 Mw. It plans to scale up its solar IPP portfolio to 500 Mw, in India and abroad.

In July, the railways flagged-off the first 1,600 Hp DEMU coach set, equipped with a solar-powered load system installed and commissioned by Jakson. The system generates 7200 kw of energy per year per system, used for powering lights, fans and other electrical systems of the coach, termed hotel load. The project would help offset carbon emissions by nine tonnes per coach annually and save about 21,000 litres diesel for a solar-powered DEMU with six trailer coaches, thereby saving ~12 lakh yearly.

WITH INCREASE IN ITS MODULE CAPACITY AND A FORAY INTO SOLAR CELL MANUFACTURING, THE COMPANY WANTS TO POSITION ITSELF AS AN ENERGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY.” SAMEER GUPTA, Chairman & managing director, Jackson group