China's glass shortage, trade restrictions hit solar panel prices in India

Glass shortage in China has increased the price of imported glass used in solar panels. The cost of imported solar modules has increased by 22 per cent since June. Solar power projects, which had postponed solar imports due to Covid-19 and trade restrictions with China, are likely to face cost escalation.

India imports close to 90 per cent of its solar cells and module demand, of which 80 per cent is from China. Domestic solar equipment makers import glass panels whose price has increased 150 per cent in the past six months, according to industry estimates.

Animesh Damani, managing partner, Artha Energy