Renewable Energy India Expo 2024 Concludes, 52,000 Visit the Tradeshow

Renewable Energy India Expo (REI Expo) 2024 was held at Greater Noida’s India Expo Centre from 3rd to 5th October 2024. This was the 17th edition of the REI Expo, which saw a footfall of 51,921, and the participation of about 510 exhibitors.

REI Expo was co-located with the 2nd edition of The Battery Show, which boasted 199 exhibitors.

PhotoVoltaic Equipment Manufacturers Showcase their Product Offerings at REI Expo 2024

In the previous edition of the REI Expo, the shift towards n-type TopCon solar cells and modules was evident, and it was also the case at REI Expo 2024. Nearly all solar equipment manufacturers showcased their n-type TopCon modules. Heterojunction Technology (HJT) solar modules were not as widely present, and many exhibitors shared with CableCommunity that it would take some more time to gauge the correct market response to HJT modules.

Reliance Introduces Domestically-produced HJT Modules at REI Expo

Reliance New Energy Ltd., a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd., introduced its Indian-made Heterojunction Technology (HJT) modules at the 17th REI Expo. These modules included Reliance’s 144-cell Pro-XL and 132-cell Pro-L HJT modules. Pro-XL modules come in a power generation range of 740 to 760 Wp with an efficiency of about 22.5%. Reliance New Energy’s Pro-L modules come in a power generation range of 690 to 720 Wp with an efficiency of about 23.1%.

Goldi Solar Launches 640 W Heloc Plus Solar Module

Gujarat-based Goldi Solar Pvt. Ltd. launched its 640 Wp Heloc Plus solar module at REI Expo 2024. This new 132-cell module features G12R solar cell size, which means that each cell has a dimension of 182 mm X 210 mm. In the previous edition of REI Expo, Goldi Solar had launched Heloc Plus solar module with M10 cell size (cell size 182 mm X 182 mm), which comes with a generating capacity of 550-590 Wp.

Speaking to CableCommunity, representatives at Goldi Solar’s stall shared that the company is expanding its manufacturing capacity from the current 4 GW of modules to 14 GW of modules by March-April 2025. This 10 GW production capacity addition will comprise entirely of TopCon solar modules, and will be done at the company’s greenfield plant in Kosamba, Gujarat. Currently, a 2 GW line is ready at the plant. In the coming months, Kosamba plant will add 2 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity per month till 10 GW production is reached.

Apart from this, the company plans to have a solar cell manufacturing capacity of 4GW by 2026.

Grew Displays its Product Range, Eyes 6.4 GW Solar Module Production by June 2025

Grew Energy Pvt. Ltd., part of the Chiripal Group, displayed TopCon Bifacial Dual Glass solar module at the REI Expo 2024. This 132-cell module is made of n-type solar cells, and has a peak generation capacity of 635 W.

Representatives at Grew Energy’s stall told CableCommunity that the company plans to achieve 6.4 GW of solar module manufacturing capacity and 2.8 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity by June 2025. Grew will attain this target by expansion of its existing Jaipur plant and through production at its backward-integrated Kathua plant.

The company has a manufacturing plant at Jaipur which currently has an annual production capacity of 1.2 GW, which will be expanded by another 1.6 GW by December 2024. At its Kathua plant, the company will attain 3.6 GW per annum of solar module production, and 2.8 GW of solar ingot, wafer and cell manufacturing capacity by March 2025.

Hitachi Displays its Grid-Tied Solar Inverters

Hitachi Hi-Rel Power Electronics Pvt. Ltd. showcased its range of grid-tied solar inverters. This included its HIVERTER-Si-N Series grid-tied solar string inverter, which comes in 110 KW and 125 KW variants (both 3-phase). Apart from this, the company displayed its HIVERTER NP215L Series grid-tied solar central outdoor inverters, which come in 3.125 MW and 2.5 MW variants.

A company statement regarding its participation in the expo stated: “Hitachi Hi-Rel’s Grid Tied Solar Inverters, based on contemporary technology from Hitachi Ltd, Japan, are designed to optimize energy production and maximize savings”. The release added that as of now, Hitachi’s solar inverters are engaged in over 3 GW of RE power plants in India, and in over 5.5 GW of RE power plants globally.

Green Hydrogen & Battery Solutions Displayed at REI Expo 2024

Waaree Showcases AL-Series Electrolyser at REI Expo

Waaree, a major Indian player in the Renewable Energy (RE) space, showcased its AL-Series electrolyser at REI Expo 2024. This electrolyser makes use of alkaline technology to generate Hydrogen from water, and is suited for large-scale Green Hydrogen generation. Waaree’s AL-Series electrolysers come in two variants, namely AL 1000 and AL 2000. AL 1000 has a Hydrogen production rate of 1,000 Nm3 per hour or about 2,143 Kg of Hydrogen per day. AL 2000, on the other hand, can produce 2,000 Nm3 per hour of Hydrogen, or 4,286 Kg of Hydrogen per day. Both these electrolyser variants offer high Hydrogen purity (without purification processes), that is 99.80%.

Reliance New Energy Displays BESS Container, LithiumWerks Battery Offerings

Reliance New Energy showcased its 5 MWh BESS Container at the REI Expo 2024. This liquid-cooled battery storage system has been designed for prismatic Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells, and can house 48 battery modules.

Apart from this, Reliance New Energy’s stall at the REI Expo displayed battery offerings by LithiumWerks, a company that Reliance had acquired in 2022.

LithiumWerks’ 32140 Lithium Ion Energy Cell was on display at the REI Expo 2024, which uses LFP chemistry, and has a rated voltage of 3.2 V. This cell is suitable for usage in Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrid Vehicles, energy storage systems, and industrial equipment.

Next REI Expo to be Held in October-November 2025, Newer Technologies Expected to be Showcased

Eighteenth edition of the REI Expo will be held on 30th and 31st October, and 1st November 2025 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida. Going by the fast-evolving technology in the RE sector, and especially in fields like Green Hydrogen, it is anticipated that several companies will display new and upcoming technologies at REI Expo 2025. While HJT solar modules are still finding their position in the Indian market, it is likely that with time more solar power equipment manufacturers will adopt them. Further, innovations in the electrolyser space are inevitable, given the recent boom of the Green Hydrogen segment in India. Therefore, it is likely that exhibitors at the REI Expo 2025 will feature more such innovative product offerings.